Medicalisation

Medicalisation refers to the process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical problems, usually in terms of illnesses and disorders. This process can occur at both the societal and individual level, and can be driven by various factors including the medical profession, the pharmaceutical industry, and cultural and societal expectations.

History

The concept of medicalisation was first studied in the 1970s by sociologists such as Peter Conrad and Joseph W. Schneider. They argued that medicalisation had both positive and negative effects on society. On one hand, it could lead to increased understanding and treatment of certain conditions. On the other hand, it could also lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and could pathologize normal aspects of human life.

Process

Medicalisation can occur through various mechanisms. One common mechanism is the expansion of disease definitions, which can lead to the medicalisation of normal variations in human biology and behavior. Another mechanism is the creation of new disease categories, which can lead to the medicalisation of previously unrecognized conditions.

Criticism

Critics of medicalisation argue that it can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and can pathologize normal aspects of human life. They also argue that it can lead to the medical control of non-medical aspects of life, and can contribute to the medical-industrial complex.

See also

• Demedicalisation
• Medical model
• Medical sociology
• Social construction of illness

References

Medicalisation Resources
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