The biopsychosocial model was developed by Engel (1977). It was developed due to criticisms of the biomedical model (Deacon, Macdonald, 2017). The biopsychosocial model recognises the interconnected nature of biological, psychological, and social factors that effects an individual’s mental wellbeing (Heslop, and Meredith, 2019).

The biopsychosocial model is classified as a medical model as it individualises disabling factors resulting from a person’s impairment but places these factors within the social context. Hence, the disability is caused by a physiological change to a person’s body, even though these changes have a social and psychological causes and implications (Deacon, Macdonald, 2017).

Shakespeare et al, (2016) suggests the biopsychosocial model is the dominant perspective to comprehending disability within health and social care, as it underpins the governments strategy to assess disability with reference to out-of-work disability benefits.

According to Bolton and Gillett (2019) the biopsychosocial model has been criticised for lacking specific content, and it is too general and vague. They also suggest another criticism of the biopsychosocial model is it lacks scientific validity and philosophical coherence.

By Annie Love