Implications of a biopsychosocial model for research in psychiatry

Developments in general and living systems theory, in computer science, and in research instrumentation and technology have led to new perspectives on the patient as a person. The biopsychosocial model forces realization that states of health and illness can be understood fully only in terms of their biological, psychological, and social parameters. Research implications of this model, particularly the appreciation it engenders for the brain's role in mediating and regulating transactions along the society-mind-brain-body continuum, are discussed. Objective data generated by skilled clinical psychiatric methods will be needed in addition to data generated in the basic science area for the full range of research challenges in psychiatry to be met.