Conceptual Comparison with Medical Paradigms from Whole Person Health (WPH) Perspectives

Nishikiori Y, Bando H, Yoshioka A and Bando M

Published on: 2026-02-22

Abstract

The importance of whole person health (WPH) has been recently emphasized. From body-mind-society-spirit points of view, holistic medicine (HM) has common and related concepts with psychosomatic medicine (PM), integrative medicine (IM), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), Western medicine (WM), and primary care (PC). These conceptual paradigms were compared for similar and different aspects. The biopsychosocial (PBS) model has been discussed from three perspectives, which are biopsychosocial model by George L. Engel, World Health Organization (WHO), and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Equivalent basic conception would be people-centered care and social determinants of health (SDH).