Medicalization

An analysis of the social and cultural processes through which certain conditions and behaviors come to be defined as medical problems.

What is medicalization?

"Medicalization is the process by which human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as medical conditions."

What factors can drive medicalization?

"Medicalization can be driven by new evidence or hypotheses about conditions; by changing social attitudes or economic considerations; or by the development of new medications or treatments."

What disciplines study medicalization?

"Medicalization is studied from a sociologic perspective..."

Who are the key players in medicalization from a sociological perspective?

"Medicalization is studied from a sociologic perspective in terms of the role and power of professionals, patients, and corporations..."

What are the implications of medicalization for individuals?

"...also for its implications for ordinary people whose self-identity and life decisions may depend on the prevailing concepts of health and illness."

What model tends to replace the social model once a condition is classified as medical?

"Once a condition is classified as medical, a medical model of disability tends to be used in place of a social model."

What other terms are synonymous with medicalization?

"Medicalization may also be termed pathologization or (pejoratively) 'disease mongering'."

How can medicalization be viewed as a benefit to society?

"Since medicalization is the social process through which a condition becomes a medical disease in need of treatment, medicalization may be viewed as a benefit to human society... which will improve overall quality of life."

How does medicalization affect the study, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of conditions?

"...and thus become the subject of medical study, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment."

What role does evidence play in the process of medicalization?

"Medicalization can be driven by new evidence or hypotheses about conditions..."

Can changing social attitudes contribute to medicalization?

"Medicalization can be driven... by changing social attitudes..."

How does medicalization relate to economic considerations?

"Medicalization can be driven... by economic considerations."

What influence do professionals have in the process of medicalization?

"Medicalization is studied from a sociologic perspective in terms of the role and power of professionals..."

How do individuals' self-identity and life decisions relate to medicalization?

"Medicalization is studied from a sociologic perspective... for its implications for ordinary people whose self-identity and life decisions may depend on the prevailing concepts of health and illness."

What can the identification of a condition as a disease lead to?

"According to this view, the identification of a condition as a disease will lead to the treatment of certain symptoms and conditions..."

How does medicalization impact the constructs of health and illness?

"...whose self-identity and life decisions may depend on the prevailing concepts of health and illness."

What is the potential negative aspect associated with medicalization?

"Medicalization may also be termed... 'disease mongering'."

What are the two alternative terms for medicalization?

"Medicalization may also be termed pathologization or (pejoratively) 'disease mongering'."

What kind of perspective is used to study medicalization?

"Medicalization is studied from a sociologic perspective..."

How does the development of new medications or treatments contribute to medicalization?

"Medicalization can be driven... by the development of new medications or treatments."