The Dynamic Biopsychosocial Model: Part 1

When studying osteopathy, you may have encountered the dynamic biopsychosocial model. This model is closely aligned with the core principles of osteopathy, and views health as the product of the reciprocal interactions of biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual factors that unfold over time.

In this post we consider the idea of centrality, as well as taking a quick look at biological and psychological components within the dynamic biopsychosocial model.
 
Factors influencing an animal’s health can fluctuate over time, with varying centrality being a fundamental concept of the dynamic biopsychosocial model. The more central a factor is, the greater its impact on the animal’s health at that particular moment. Health is constantly in flux, and the interplay of biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual factors can impact it positively or negatively.
 
For example: An injury might temporarily make some biological dynamics and interpersonal dynamics more central. Or if there is an underlying hormonal issue, or nutritional imbalance or deficiency, not addressing this may mean that biological and psychological factors become more central over time (as the condition worsens or as the allostatic load from an untreated condition creates a lack of residual energy and further disease occurs; or as symptoms of depression, irritability or anxiety start to present themselves).
 
Biological factors such as breed, gender, age, weight, medications, and previous trauma can affect an animal’s health. These factors can change over time due to illness, injury, environmental conditions, diet, and stress. Epigenetic changes and cell senescence are two ways in which biological factors can change over time.
 
The psychological component of the dynamic biopsychosocial model seeks to find a psychological foundation for a particular set of symptoms that affect health, and can include coping skills, social relationships, mental health, stereotypies, pain or the anticipation of pain etc. In animals, it includes the ability to understand and read social cues, stressors, socialising, natural behaviours, abuse or neglect history, pain, anxiety, fear, and mental predisposition.
 
Next week we will consider interpersonal and contextual dynamics.