Which of the following is a core component of a biopsychosocial assessment?

• A. Only medical history.
• B. Only current symptoms.
• C. Biological, psychological, and social factors.
• D. Only legal history.

Answer: (C)

Biopsychosocial assessment means looking at how biological, psychological, and social factors all come together to influence a person’s substance use and treatment needs. The best answer reflects that integrated view, explicitly including biology (like medical history or genetics), psychology (mental health, coping styles, motivation), and social context (family, supports, culture, environment, and even legal issues). Limiting the focus to medical history or current symptoms misses important pieces from the other domains that can drive risk, resilience, and what treatment will be most effective. Likewise, focusing only on legal history leaves out biological and psychological influences that shape behavior and recovery. So the comprehensive inclusion of biological, psychological, and social factors is what defines this assessment approach.