Introduction
Imagine arriving at the doctor’s office with constant headaches. A traditional doctor will ask: “Where does it hurt? When did it start? How intense is it?” But a doctor who practices biopsychosocial medicine will also ask: “How’s work going? Are you sleeping well? How are your relationships?”
Does it seem invasive? Actually, it’s revolutionary.
What’s Missing in Traditional Medicine
For decades, Western medicine has focused exclusively on the body as a machine. Something broken? Fix it. A virus attacked? Eliminate it. This approach, called the biomedical model, has saved countless lives and brought extraordinary advances.
But it also created a problem: we started treating diseases, not people.
The Birth of a New Vision
In 1977, psychiatrist George Engel published an article that would change medicine forever. He proposed that to truly understand health and disease, we need to look at three inseparable dimensions:
1. Biological – Genes, viruses, hormones, body structures 2. Psychological – Emotions, thoughts, behaviors, traumas 3. Social – Relationships, culture, work conditions, access to resources
Practical Examples of the Model in Action
Case 1: Maria’s Hypertension
- Biomedical approach: High blood pressure → Prescribe medication
- Biopsychosocial approach:
- Biological: Yes, there’s hypertension
- Psychological: Maria is experiencing work burnout
- Social: She’s a single mother with no support network
- Integrated treatment: Medication + therapy + priority reorganization + seeking social support
Case 2: João’s Pain
- Biomedical: Normal tests → “There’s nothing wrong”
- Biopsychosocial: Chronic pain after job loss, unprocessed grief
- Treatment: Physical therapy + psychological support + social reintegration
Why This Matters to You
Studies show that:
- 60-80% of medical consultations have significant psychosocial components
- Chronic stress affects the immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems
- Social isolation increases mortality as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
- People with social support recover faster from surgeries
How to Seek This Type of Care
Questions to ask your doctor:
- “Do you consider emotional and social factors in my diagnosis?”
- “How might my lifestyle be influencing my symptoms?”
- “Are there non-pharmacological approaches we could combine?”
Conclusion
Biopsychosocial medicine doesn’t reject science—it expands it. It recognizes that we are complex beings, where body, mind, and environment are constantly in conversation.
Treating only the body is like trying to fix a computer by looking only at the hardware, ignoring the software and the user.
You deserve care that sees you as a whole person.