Consider a time when you or a family member/friend were sick (could be a minor sickness like the flu,
or something more serious). Discuss how various biopsychosocial factors may have contibuted to the
illness.
• Discuss how various biopsychosocial factors may have contributed to the illness, and be sure
to include the behaviors involved and how you feel those behaviors contributed to the illness. •
Describe what you learned from the textbook in your discussion
The biopsychosocial model developed by Engel (1977) examines biological, psychological and social
factors affecting individuals who develop health issues, to determine the causes and behaviors that
influence diseases (Ogden, 2017). This model can easily be applied and related to the illnesses and
ailments we experience throughout our lives such as mental health conditions, chronic pain, and
cardiovascular issues.
In 2007, my husband's life changed forever when his mother passed away unexpectantly. He was only
21 years old, with his whole life ahead of him, never imagining his mother would be taken away, without
warning, so soon. This traumatic event created the psychological aspect found in the biopsychosocial
model where the signs of depression became overwhelming for him. The social factors such as enjoying
time around friends and family or going out to dinner became too difficult resulting in feelings of
isolation. It has been 16 years since my husband lost his mother and he is still working to resolve the
biological concerns created from this traumatic event. He has high blood pressure caused from chronic
stress and takes medication daily and treats his depression by seeing a grief therapist. A question that I
have always kept to myself is: if he had recognized the different aspects of grief and received treatment
after such a traumatic event could it have saved him years of bad health and the need for long term
therapy?
