The medical model of mental illness

The medical model of mental illness

The medical model of mental illness is a model that links mental illness to changes in biological variables. In this model, mental illness is viewed as an actual disease that requires a diagnosis that will lead to the treatment of the condition. A proper study of the patient’s symptoms is done to come up with a diagnosis (Sullivan, 2016). Mental illness is believed to have physical causes and manifestation which can be treated effectively, just the same way that doctors treat a broken leg. The medical model enables the doctors to treat and regulate the symptoms of mental illnesses and in this way is key in informing the treatment.

In as much as the medical model may have aided in giving patients hope and in the understanding of mental illnesses, it has some weaknesses that are worth noting. The diagnosis of mental illness is not always a reliable tool since, as seen in numerous studies, the model is not efficient in differentiating the behavior of mentally ill patients from those that are not mentally ill. The difference in patients’ behaviors makes the model inefficient (Lim, 2018).

The medical model has also been harmful to some patients since the course of treatment may not always be gentle on the patients. The mechanical restraints used on some mentally ill patients are inhumane and have more harm than good. The patients are viewed as clients in need of a diagnosis and treatment and not normal people (Lim, 2018). Some of the patients resist medication due to stigma, the harsh treatment methods, or other varied reasons. An example is Elyn Saks from the video. Elyn expresses her feelings on the use of mechanical restraints and also explains that at some point in her journey, she strongly resisted treatment to feel in control of the illness. A friend of hers also states that even if there was a pill to once and for all treat the illness, she would not take it.

Do you believe that the medical model is effective in the treatment and diagnosis of mental illness?

References

Sullivan, J. (2016). Models of Mental Illness.

Lim, M. W., & Lee, J. (2018). Determinants of health-related quality of life in schizophrenia: Beyond the medical model. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 712.