Biopsychosocial model

Biopsychosocial models are a class of trans-disciplinary models which look at the interconnection between biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors. These models specifically examine how these aspects play a role in topics ranging from human development to health and disease.

According to Derick T. Wade and Peter W. Halligan, as of 2017, it is generally accepted that "illness and health are the result of an interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors."

The term was first used to describe a model advocated by George L. Engel in 1977. The idea behind the model was to express mental distress as a triggered response of a disease that a person is genetically vulnerable when stressful life events occur. In that sense, it is also known as vulnerability-stress model. It is now referred to as a generalized model that interprets similar aspects, and has become an alternative to the biomedical and/or psychological dominance of many health care systems. The biopsychosocial model has been growing in interest for researchers in healthcare and active medical professionals in the past decade.