Assignment 3: Biopsychosocial-Cultural Model

Traditionally, mental illness was considered a biological problem, either inherited or developed due to genetic vulnerability within the individual. This point of view is termed the medical model. Treatment was provided to the individual in one-to-one meetings with a psychiatrist or sessions with a psychotherapist.

The field of mental health has evolved from the traditional model to one incorporating many more people, factors, causes, and types of treatment. The biopsychosocial-cultural model incorporates biological, psychological, developmental, familial, social, and cultural factors to understand how mental illness develops and how to design effective treatments.

Revisit the case of the two Wes Moores discussed in M1: Assignment 2. Then, pretend that you are the prison psychologist who completed the evaluation of the Wes Moore convicted of murder.

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, complete the following:

1. Gather information about the potential causes of Mr. Moore's outcome.

2. Write a report of your findings to be filed in Mr. Moore's chart and used by professionals who will be helping Mr. Moore. Address the following in your report:

i. Analyze how each of the following played a role in causing or affecting Mr. Moore's troubled childhood and eventual imprisonment:

• Biological factors (genetic and physiological)

• Developmental factors

• Psychological factors (emotional and related to thoughts)

• Familial and social factors

• Cultural factors (environmental and multicultural)

ii. Evaluate how Mr. Moore's troubled childhood and eventual imprisonment could have been prevented by early intervention. In addition, explain how that intervention could have been designed to address each of the following:

• Psychological factors

• Familial and social factors

• Cultural factors

iii. Recommend at least two ideas for treatment that Mr. Moore should have received in childhood, based on all of the following:

• Biological factors

• Psychological factors

• Familial and social factors

Write a 3-5-page report in Word format (not including the title page and reference page). Include a title and reference page in APA format, and apply APA standards to citation of sources, including in-text citations and full references.

Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M1_A3.doc. For example, if your name is John Smith, your document will be named SmithJ_M1_A3.doc.