Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Model of Health
Human beliefs about the causes of illness and injury vary from one era to another. In the Neolithic times (c.a 8000- 9000 b.c ), illness and injury being common phenomena’s, were directly associated to natural events manipulated by higher powers which also controlled climate changes and other natural events. Overtime, healing ceremonies, songs, sacred objects, and incantations were developed as means of pacifying the evil forces which were believed to cause diseases, and illnesses. Then, during the period of intellectual development, ways of western medicine was first implemented by Hippocrates, who was regarded to as the most celebrated Greek practitioner and till date is known as the father of medicine. Hippocrates helped overcome the superstitious treatment by reinforcing western medical treatment techniques. Hippocrates applied a practical way of treating unwell individuals, that is, by making observations, such as taking temperature, respiration rate, putting his ear to the patient’s chest to hear the individuals heart beat, moreover, he promoted the idea of prognosis, where a forecast is made of a disease, according to him, this forecast, gave the patient knowledge about his or her condition and indirectly influenced, the being’s mental and physical condition. From these interactions with other people and experiences, Hippocrates wrote about health and healing. After him came Claudius Galen, a greek physician who referred to disease causing organisms as the source of diseases and illness. These organisms are today called pathogens – bacteria, virus and other infectious agents, until his theory came into light diseases and illness were viewed as consequences of evil acts, and in order to be freed of such acts, the individual was made to repent. Following which came the period of renaissance, Van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope, which helped look into details of pathogens and their effects, following him, Harvey studied the mechanical principles related to