The Medical Model treats mental illnesses as physical diseases where medication is often used in treatment. An assumption made by supporters of the medical model is that they consider symptoms to be outward signs of an inner physical disorder attributed to a single cause. They believe that the inner physical disorder can be treated when the right physical treatment is administered. In addition, it is argued that mental disorders are related to the physical structure of the brain and its functioning.
In the diagnosis, psychiatrists usually describe treatment by use of drugs, electroconvulsive therapy, or psychosurgery. This is after a clinical interview with the patient, which leads to the doctor making a judgment based on the abnormal behavior of the patient, and what other close people or relatives say. In most cases, medications used tend to change the brain chemistry of the patient. These medications usually modify and add a chemical responsible for complications related to perception, mood such as depression, and anxiety.
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Most people tend to criticize the method of medical model where practitioners of this model are seen as healers rather than agents of social control. People argue that mentally ill patients do not need medication and that they need unconditional positive regard for them to heal. Others believe that the use of medical model is a way of stigmatizing disability, thus refer to it as an unethical practice. The many critics of the medical model that arose in the 20 th century led to the refinement of the model thus it shifted from a biomedical perspective to biopsychosocial.
Therefore, people should cease to criticize medical model. The new medical model is improved though people still refer to it as ‘the medical model’. There have been great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health. Doctors and psychiatrists advise, coordinate, and come up with interventions for health improvement rather than treating mental abnormalities like other illnesses. In addition, the recovery model has been introduced in the mental healthcare. It mainly involves processes of healing and transformation of mentally ill patients where healthcare professionals are involved in monitoring and symptom control of the illness over a certain period rather than using drugs.
