The Biogenetic Model

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The words mental illness, bipolar, OCD, schizophrenic and many other associated words tend to draw a negative mental image for the general public. However, there is an approach aimed at changing this perception through the use of the biogenetic model, and yet evidence suggests this model is both helping and hindering the efforts to reduce public stigma. The biogenetic model is based on the view that mental illness is biological, traced to individual parts of the brain rather than the result of psychological and social causes (Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2015). One study found biological explanations of mental illness combined with the relative treatment information, increased positive attitudes towards people with mental illness (Lebowitz & …show more content…
The effectiveness of the treatment when using psychiatric medication is highly variable per patient and is more effective for some more than others. On the other hand, the emergence of the biopsychosocial model focuses on biological, psychological and social explanations to give a broader understanding of a mental illness (Burton et al., 2015). Although it is yet to be tested the biopsychosocial model shows great promise in the treatment of mental illness, involving multiple healthcare disciplines collaborating to further diagnosis and treatment methods (Deacon, 2013). Both models have their advantages though with the lack of diagnostic success with the biogenetic model the biopsychosocial model seems to be the direction for future psychological …show more content…
Unfortunately, the biogenetic model has done very little for the patients themselves with studies finding, patients tended to be more negative about their changes of recovery, they see their illness as out of their control and see little importance in psychological help as it was biologically based illness (Haslam & Kvaale, 2015). Biogenetic model has been an impediment for those affected with mental illness, although the pharmaceutical companies have flourished from this movement little advancement has happened otherwise (Deacon, 2013). The current model is not working in regards to assisting patients overcome social and personal stigma, patient focussed models need to be created to better understand and help the affected