A Primer on Integral Theory and Its Application to Mental Health Care.
James D Duffy
Global Advances in Health and Medicine September 21, 2020 DOI: 10.1177/2164956120952733 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Paradigm Mental health care Wisdom Integral |
| Key points | Argues that the current biological-treatment-focused paradigm of psychiatry has failed to address escalating mental health-care needs and may contribute to psychopathology and the burden of mental illness. Proposes that Integral Theory offers a framework for 'integral psychiatry' that extends biopsychosocial approaches and supports a mental health-care system addressing mental illness while also promoting human flourishing. |
Abstract
Contemporary psychiatry has become increasingly focused on biological treatments. Many critics claim that the current paradigm of psychiatry has failed to address the escalating mental health-care needs of our communities and may even be contributing to psychopathology and the burden of mental illness. This article describes the foundations of Integral Theory and proposes that this model offers a framework for developing integral psychiatry and a more effective and compassionate mental health-care system. An integral model of psychiatry extends biopsychosocial approaches and provides the scaffolding for more effective approaches to integrative mental health care. Furthermore, rather than focusing on psychopathology, the Integral theory model describes the emergence of human consciousness and supports a mental health-care system that addresses mental illness but also promotes human flourishing.