International Classification of Functioning Biopsychosocial Model

Question: Describe about the International Classification of Functioning for Biopsychosocial Model. Answer: I think The International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) is a biopsychosocial model rather than medical model as criticized by the disability scholars that integrates the medical and social model. It is the interaction of the disability to its functioning and the environment. It is the interaction of a persons health conditions with environment and their personal factors. The biomedical, psychological and social models related to health, interact to form the biopsychosocial model (Mitra, 2014). I think, this framework is useful in research, training and other aspects of health care. This model is unique and a holistic approach to health care. This model advocates the interrelation between the domains of health and is independent. This model represents a person with medical condition but assumes one healthy but under this model, he or she is not considered healthy (Talo, Rytkoski, 2016). Disability is a phenomenon that accommodates all the dimensions of the human including the body and complex social phenomenon. The social model perceives the disability from the social point of view rather than individual characteristics. The social model states that disability is a barrier arising due to social perceptions rather than being individual barriers (Barnes, 2012). It shows that society is the main factor that contributes to disability rather than the physical, mental or psychological factors. The social model states that the environmental limitations address the disability. The social model states that every individual is capable of participating in social life and there is equality among the individuals. The social model of ICF advocates that the disability is created socially and there are limitations caused by the health conditions influenced by the environmental factors (Wallcraft, Hopper, 2015). This model ignores the individualistic characteristics that are contributing to the disease. This social model aligns to ICF but it is partially valid. International Classification of Functioning provides information regarding the disability and functioning combined with environmental and personal factors. ICF conceptualizes the disability along with classification and functioning of disability and is agreed by the World Health Organization. It is very useful in the study of disability as it provides information and framework on disability. ICF is an internationally accepted framework that is freely available defining disability. ICF is a common language understood by disabled people, provides information about relevant services or accessing about data on disability. It also covers the policies and other population related data, statistics and research about disability that are based on the ICF framework. The ICF is very informative regarding the disability studies and is a multi-purpose tool. ICF framework could be applied into clinical practice providing a common language with patients and clinical disciplines (Rouquette et al., 2 015). It is advantageous in the classification of disability by providing population statistics including surveys and censuses. The ICF study on disability is helpful in changing my attitude and perspective towards the concept of disability. Being a student, I think the course material covering the ICF model-classifying disability helps to understand the concept and different models regarding disability. It is useful by the health professionals to facilitate professional learning and make students equipped through teaching and learning. It helps to overcome the previous approaches to disability that might have lead to discrimination in studying disability. It supports the continuity of study in the education and provides a common language for educational, social and health systems. References Barnes, C. (2012). Understanding the social model of disability.Routledge handbook of disability studies. Oxon and New York: Routledge. Mitra, S. (2014). Reconciling the capability approach and the ICF: A response.ALTER: European Journal of Disability Research, Forthcoming. Rouquette, A., Badley, E. M., Falissard, B., Dub, T., Leplege, A., Coste, J. (2015). Moderators, mediators, and bidirectional relationships in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework: An empirical investigation using a longitudinal design and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).Social Science Medicine,135, 133-142. Talo, S. A., Rytkoski, U. M. (2016). BPS-ICF model, a tool to measure biopsychosocial functioning and disability within ICF concepts: theory and practice updated.International Journal of Rehabilitation Research,39(1), 1-10. Wallcraft, J., Hopper, K. (2015). The Capabilities Approach and the social model of mental health.Madness, Distress and the Politics of Disablement, 83.