The biopsychosocial model: Exploring six impossible things.

In our view, the biopsychosocial model is a vision and an approach to practice rather than an empirically verifiable theory, a coherent philosophy, or a clinical method. In some cases, when that vision is confused with ideologic dogmatism, it can invite abandonment of the vision entirely or in selected situations. The authors suggest that habits of mind may be the missing link between a biopsychosocial intent and clinical reality. These habits of mind include attentiveness, peripheral vision, curiosity, and informed flexibility. These qualities are teachable and can be reinforced. Rather than aspiring to “being biopsychosocial”— some imagined, static state—commitment to an ongoing process of “becoming biopsychosocial” is more pragmatic and realistic.