Biopsychosocial Profiler

+++ Manage musculoskeletal patients more effectively using the Biopsychosocial Profiler App +++

The Biopsychosocial Profiler App is a patient administered questionnaire utilizing 24 questions to create a biopsychosocial patient profile. This profile assists clinicians establish a broad biopsychosocial profile of patients presenting with musculoskeletal disorders. It helps guide assessment priorities and assists clinical decision-making.

Elements that comprise the biopsychosocial profile include, Peripheral Neurological Involvement, Mechanical Pain, Psychosocial Factors, Pathological Pain and Lifestyle Factors.

Questionnaire results of patient responses within each element are presented within the app in graphic and literal styles.


+++ The Biopsychosocial Model +++

The biopsychosocial framework is a useful theory for guiding clinical reasoning in health care. The theory posits that biological, psychological and social factors coalesce to play a significant role in human functioning within the context of disease and illness.

Musculoskeletal pain and disability is not immune from the influence of biopsychosocial factors and to some degree, is shaped by the influence of all three elements. The challenge for clinicians is to determine the relative contribution by each of the elements to the presenting patients problem.

A means of screening and rating the respective contribution of each biopsychosocial element is crucial for targeted patient management and optimizing outcomes. Targeted management allows streamlined patient care, facilitates clinician thought processes and provides clinical decision making clarity.

The Biopsychosocial Profiler App assists clinicians establish a broad biopsychosocial profile of presenting patients. It helps guide assessment priorities and assist clinical decisions.


+++ Biopsychosocial Factors +++

Peripheral Neurological Involvement
The presence of pins and needles, numbness, weakness or pains that extend peripherally into the extremities should always provoke concern for peripheral neurological involvement and requires appropriate examination.

Mechanical Pain
Mechanical pain may be analogous to nociceptive pain (Woolf 2010). Symptoms associated with mechanical pain are typically specific to aggravating and easing activities related to movements or postures.

Psychosocial Factors
Psychosocial factors are known to contribute to musculoskeletal pain and disability. These factors include a vast array of psychological disorders, alterations in mood, beliefs and self-efficacy.

Pathological Pain
Terminology around pathological pain (Woolf 2010) can be confusing, with terms like neuropathic pain, neurogenic pain or central sensitisation often being used interchangeable for pathological pain. Pathological pain factors used in this element of the profile may be considered to encompass all of these terminologies.

Lifestyle Factors
These factors may correlate to the overall wellbeing and health status of the patient.