Social Work Concepts: Psychosocial
Contents
- Introduction
- Background
- Psychosocial assessment and intervention
- Psychosocial adaptation and support
- References
Introduction
The psychosocial approach considers people in the context of the combined impact of psychological factors and their social environment on their physical and mental health and ability to function. This approach is used by medical and social science researchers as well as a wide range of helping professions in health and social care settings.
Background
Adolf Meyer in the late 19th century stated that "We cannot understand the individual presentation of mental illness, [and perpetuating factors] without knowing how that person functions in the environment." Psychosocial assessment stems from this idea. The relationship between mental and emotional wellbeing and the environment was first commonly applied by Erik Erikson. in his description of the stages of psychosocial development. Mary Richmond considered there to be a strict relationship between cause and effect, in a diagnostic process. In 1941 Gordon Hamilton renamed the existing (1917) concept of "social diagnosis" as "psychosocial study".
"Psychosocial study" is a term used to describe a diagnosis. Hollis expanded on the psychosocial study in 1964, focusing on the treatment model. It clashes with various forms of social psychology, which tries to explain social patterns within individuals. "Psychosocial dysfunction" or "psychosocial morbidity" are terms used to describe problems with one's psychosocial functioning. This refers to the psychosocial self's lack of development or atrophy, which frequently occurs alongside other dysfunctions that are physical, emotional, or cognitive in nature. There is now a cross-disciplinary field of study, as well as organisations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Transcultural Psychosocial Organization and the Association for Psychosocial Studies.
Psychosocial assessment and intervention
Psychosocial assessment takes into account a number of key factors such as psychological, biological, and social functioning, as well as the availability of resources. It is a systematic investigation that results from the introduction of dynamic interaction; it is a continuous process that lasts throughout a treatment and is characterised by the circularity of cause-effect/effect-cause. In assessment, the clinician/health care professional determines the client's problem, assesses the resources available to address it, and considers possible solutions based on an educated hypothesis formed through data collection. This hypothesis is tentative and undergoes a process of elimination, refinement, or reconstruction as new data becomes available.
There are five internal steps in assessment:
- Data collection (relevant and current) of the problem presented.
- Integrating collected facts with relevant theories.
- Formulating a hypothesis (case theory) that gives the presented problem more clarity.
- Hypothesis substantiation through exploration of the problem: life history of the client, etiology, personality, environment, stigmas, etc.
- Further integration of newer facts identified in the treatment period and preparing a psychosocial report for psychosocial intervention.
Psychiatric, psychological, and social functioning, risks posed to the individual and others, problems that must be addressed as a result of any co-morbidity, and personal circumstances, including family or other carers, are all part of the assessment. Other considerations include the person's living situation, financial and occupational status, and physical requirements. When categorised, assessments include data collection of the client's living situation and finances, social history and supports, family history, coping skills, religious/cultural factors, trauma from systemic issues or abuse, and medico-legal factors (assessment of the client's awareness of legal documents, surrogate decision-making, power of attorney, and consent), among others. The resource assessment of psycho-spiritual strengths; substance abuse; coping mechanisms, styles, and patterns (individual, family, workplace, and use of social support systems); sleeping pattern; needs and impacts of the problem, and so on, are some of the components. Individual scales, batteries, and testing instruments are used by advanced clinicians in their assessments. In a late-1980s issue of Psychological Inquiry, Hans Eysenck raised questions about then-current assessment methods, which eventually gave way to comprehensive Bio-Psycho-Social assessment. Behavior is seen as a function of biological factors, psychological issues, and the social context in this theoretical model. The physiological portion of these evaluations is carried out by qualified healthcare professionals. Through the interaction of these disciplines in a domain where mental illnesses are physical, and physical conditions have mental components, this emphasis on biology broadens the field of approach for the client, with the client. Emotions, too, are both psychological and physical.
The intervention is predicted by the clinician's understanding and set of judgments about the client's situation, as well as the assessment through a theory of each case. As a result, a good psychosocial assessment leads to a good psychosocial intervention, which aims to reduce complaints and improve functioning related to mental disorders and/or social problems (e.g., personal relationships, work, or school) by addressing the various psychological and social factors influencing the individual. A psychosocial intervention for an older adult client with a mental disorder, for example, might include psychotherapy and a referral to a psychiatrist, as well as addressing the caregiver's needs in an effort to reduce stress for the entire family system in order to improve the client's quality of life. In a medical model, treatment for psychosocial disorders usually consists of only drugs and talk therapy.
Psychosocial adaptation and support
Psychosocial adaptation is a process that a person goes through in order to achieve good fitness in person-environment compatibility, also known as adjustment, wisdom-oriented activities, and psychosocial equilibrium. [6] Psychosocial support is when a supporter provides psychological and social resources to a person in order to improve the receiver's ability to cope with problems. [6] The allocentric principle, which promotes health and well-being in social relationships, motivates people to help victims of terminal illness, disaster, war, catastrophe, or violence in order to build community and individual resilience. Its goals are to make it easier for people to return to normal life, to make it easier for them to participate in their recovery, and to avoid the pathological consequences of potentially traumatic situations. This could include both informational and instrumental assistance.
References
- Woodward, Kath (2015), Psychosocial Studies: An Introduction, New York, NY: Routledge, pp. 3–4, 7–8, ISBN 978-1-315-86782-3
- Mary Woods; Florence Hollis (9 August 1999). Casework: A Psychosocial Therapy (https://b ooks.google.com/books?id=JTxHAAAAMAAJ). McGraw-Hill Companies, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-07-290179-5.
- Steve Trenoweth; Nicola Moone (13 March 2017). Psychosocial Assessment in Mental Health (https://books.google.com/books?id=dWowDgAAQBAJ). SAGE Publications. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-5264-2152-4.
- Cummings, Sherry M.; Kropf, Nancy P. (2013), Handbook of Psychosocial Interventions with Older Adults: Evidence-based Approaches, Taylor and Francis, p. xi, ISBN 9781317990307
- Pallassana R. Balgopal (2000). Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees (https:// archive.org/details/socialworkpracti00pall). Columbia University Press. p. 220 (https://archiv e.org/details/socialworkpracti00pall/page/220). ISBN 978-0-231-50418-8.
- Dr. Elizabeth Da Silva Cardoso, PhD; Dr. Julie A. Chronister, PhD (2009). Understanding Psychosocial Adjustment to Chronic Illness and Disability: A Handbook for Evidence-Based Practitioners in Rehabilitation (https://books.google.com/books?id=hP-JZjB_KlEC&pg=PA5 1). Springer Publishing Company. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-8261-2387-9.
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