A biopsychosocial approach to etiology and pathogenesis

The interactive etiological and pathogenic processes between physical and psychosocial environ-mental stimuli, the individual's appraisal of these influences, and his or her reactions to them in terms of emotion, cognition, behaviour, and physiology; the modification of these reactions through coping, social support, and other interacting variables; and the resulting changes in health and well-being - are extremely complex and poorly understood. Against this background, this paper argues for a biopsychosocial approach, based on an ecological model influenced by, and influencing, James P. Henry's related approaches. This approach is exemplified in six studies carried out by our group and briefly reviewed in this paper.