Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148:553-563
Copyright © 1991 by American Psychiatric Association
Organic unity theory: the mind-body problem revisited
A Goodman
Minnesota Institute of Psychiatry, St. Paul 55105.
The purpose of this essay is to delineate the conceptual framework for
psychiatry as an integrated and integrative science that unites the mental
and the physical. Four basic philosophical perspectives concerning the
relationship between mind and body are introduced. The biopsychosocial
model, at this time the preeminent model in medical science that addresses
this relationship, is examined and found to be flawed. Mental-physical
identity theory is presented as the most valid philosophical approach to
understanding the relationship between mind and body. Organic unity theory
is then proposed as a synthesis of the biopsychosocial model and
mental-physical identity theory in which the difficulties of the
biopsychosocial model are resolved. Finally, some implications of organic
unity theory for psychiatry are considered. 1) The conventional dichotomy
between physical (organic) and mental (functional) is linguistic/conceptual
rather than inherent in nature, and all events and processes involved in
the etiology, pathogenesis, symptomatic manifestation, and treatment of
psychiatric disorders are simultaneously biological and psychological. 2)
Neuroscience requires new conceptual models to comprehend the integrated
and emergent physiological processes to which psychological phenomena
correspond. 3) Introspective awareness provides data that are valid for
scientific inquiry and is the most direct method of knowing psychophysical
events. 4) Energy currently being expended in disputes between biological
and psychological psychiatry would be more productively invested in
attempting to formulate the conditions under which each approach is
maximally effective.
