A system of treatment that suggests that mental disorders are diseases or illnesses that impair an individual's ability to function is the ____.

• A. Medical model
• B. Public health model
• C. Client strengths
• D. Whole person

Answer: (A)

The medical model treats mental disorders as diseases or illnesses that impair functioning. It frames these conditions as medical problems with potential biological, genetic, or environmental contributors, diagnosed using standardized criteria and symptoms, and treated through medical or clinical interventions aimed at reducing impairment and restoring functioning. This focus on diagnosing illness and applying medical or therapeutic treatments is why it fits best. The other options emphasize different perspectives: the public health model centers on prevention and population-level factors, the client strengths approach highlights resilience and resources, and the whole-person view considers multiple life domains without necessarily labeling a condition as a disease.