The Future of the Biopsychosocial Model: Toward a Transdisciplinary Systems Science of Mental Health

The biopsychosocial model is perhaps the most widely accepted model of mental health. Yet the model is also surprisingly limited, failing to provide clear guidance for clinical research. In this article, we join recent efforts to chart a path forward for the biopsychosocial model, arguing that the success of this framework will hinge on the ability to engage in transdisciplinary collaboration. We begin by showing that the biopsychosocial model is a systems model and that collaboration with researchers studying systems in other disciplines will therefore afford insight into the nature, etiology, and treatment of mental disorders. We then illustrate how biological, psychological, social, and environmental systems all contribute to mental health and argue that advancing the understanding of mental health will therefore require collaborative integration of work from across domains of science. We conclude with three concrete steps that can help move the field toward a transdisciplinary systems science of mental health.