The Biopsychosocial Model

Reviews the book, The Biopsychosocial Formulation Manual: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals by William H. Campbell and Robert M. Rohrbaugh (see record 2006-09655-000). According to Dattilio, this training manual is appropriate for both trainees and experienced clinicians in the field of mental health. Both authors are practicing and academic psychiatrists, and together they have designed a manual that offers a practical approach to organizing the wealth of data obtained from patients into some meaningful formulation. They have created a unique format that ensures appropriate emphasis of all three components delineated in Engel's original model (biological, psychological, and social). In addition to the introduction, which provides a brief overview of the theory, the text consists of nine sections, seven of which include the biological formulation, psychological formulation, social formulation, differential diagnosis, risk assessment, biopsychosocial treatment plan, and prognosis. The last section, Putting it All Together, presents a case study that illustrates the proper application of the biopsychosocial formulation model. The back matter includes useful appendices containing three additional psychodynamic perspectives, as well as a glossary of psychodiagnostic terms and a manual database record. The book is accompanied by a CD of supplementary resources. The CD contains 17 separate PDF files, which can be used to supplement the material in the book. One file is another very useful case study that illustrates the proper implementation of the formulation model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)