ONE ARTICULATION OF THE STRUCTURAL FAMILY-THERAPY MODEL - A BIOBEHAVIORAL FAMILY MODEL OF CHRONIC ILLNESS IN CHILDREN

This article presents the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM), which, as a general systems model, has the advantage of being conceptually neut ral with respect to health versus pathology, and promotes integration of individual, family and social levels of theory. The BBFM provides a heuristic theory of pathways by which family patterns of interaction and individual family member physiological function influence one anot her. The BBFM also can be extrapolated to the clinical domain, providi ng a developmental biopsychosocial approach to assessment and interven tion in childhood chronic illness or disability. A case illustration d emonstrates clinical application.