Please read the article which not only gives a good account of George Engel's original specification of the biopsychosocial but also updates to those ideas. As you read it, think about how the psychological and social aspects of health and illness intersect with its biomedical features, as well as what other sorts of things might still be missing from this 3-part formulation (e.g. in hospice/palliative care, practitioners often think in terms of a four-part, bio-psycho-social-existential model).

Many talk not only of the biopsychosocial model, but of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model or a bio-psycho-social-existential model of care. This article by Christina Puchalski describes the role of spirituality in health and health care. As you read it, think about how you might integrate notions of spirituality into what you've already read about the biopsychosocial model.

This chapter is a useful supplement for exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the biopsychosocial model. It expands on the issues mentioned in the required reading in ways you might find helpful. It is quite lengthy, so it is provided here only as an optional supplement for those who want to investigate these issues further than is necessary for the course.

While we have largely focused on humanism in the therapeutic context, it is also important in the research context. This article articulates various considerations of humanism within the setting of clinical research.