Neuroplasticity in the Biopsychosocial Framework: A Foundational Theory for Intervention

Abstract

Abstract Social work rests on the person-in-environment approach to understand how aspects of the environment influence an individual during the lifespan. A pivotal framework reflecting this approach is Engel’s biopsychosocial (BPS) framework. The BPS framework reflects the transactional relationship of an individual in the environment with influential biological, psychological, and social interactions. This framework provides a structure to nest the biological findings of neuroscience that have in recent years provided support for the interventions in social work practice. Specifically, neuroplasticity highlights the dynamic bidirectional influence of environmental factors on an individual’s psychological and biological processes. The present article provides a conceptual model of neuroplasticity nested within Engel’s BPS framework offering the practical use of neuroplasticity in social work research and practice. While this model has several applications in social work interventions, this article addresses the relevance of neuroplasticity in depression. Acknowledging that the field of neuroscience has much to offer social work, the conceptual model presented in this article is only a first step to address the biological gap in social work.

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