THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PARADIGM AND THE FUTURE OF PSYCHIATRY

Although hazardous, prediction is necessary for sensible programing fo r the future of psychiatry, Because of the multitude of variables esse ntial for comprehending normal and abnormal behavior, a complex, all e ncompassing model takes on increasing importance, Dualism and reductio nism have had a chilling effect on progress in developing psychiatric models, The biopsychosocial model as elaborated by Dr. George Engel wo uld appear to be a major step in moving toward an adequate workable mo del, Dr. Engel rejects the biomedical or Newtonian model in favor of t he biopsychosocial model, basing his conception in part on development s in the past century, particularly the contributions of Einstein, Hei senberg, and Planck. The implications and relevance of these advances, including the work of Niels Bohr, are presented. Other ideas such as Chaos Theory and the work of Roger Penrose are also discussed, togethe r with the new thinking that arises from them. This work reinforces no tions of holism, leading to a more humanitarian psychiatry and medicin e. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company