title: The medical model-why psychiatry is a branch of medicine.
abstract: With a perspective from evolutionary biology and a view of the philosophy of science as described by Popper, various models of psychiatry are discussed. It is concluded that any satisfactory model must be a synthesis of the biological, psychological and social. It is argued that the concept of diagnosis is the core of the medical model, and that psychiatry is a branch of medicine, and not a social science, because the biological aspect is very important.
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011570:Psychiatry; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology