ABSTRACT
The biomedical model is the dominant model in diagnostic practice. The biomedical model mainly assumes that mental health disorders occur within an individual. As such, the diagnostic process for mental disorders is focused on identifying symptoms, providing a working diagnosis, and applying individual-focused treatment. If the treatment is unsuccessful, then new information needs to be gathered to provide a better diagnosis and hopefully better treatment. This model is the most widely used and currently the only one that receives reimbursement from insurance companies.
The current iteration of the DSM, DSM 5, is rooted in the biomedical model. The goal or rooting DSM 5 in the biomedical model was to create valid and reliable diagnostic categories that would allow for effective intervention. Research has suggested that the promises of the DSM to provide this have fallen short.
New diagnostic frameworks, such as RDoC, have been put forward to improve upon the DSM. While these models have the potential to provide better diagnostic categories, they also fall short. Specifically, they are still rooted in the biomedical model, and still assume that mental disorders reside mainly within an individual.
