Psychology 3301F/G Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Health Psychology, Biopsychosocial Model, Behavioral Medicine
27 Apr 2018
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Psych 3301 Chapter 15
All clinical psychologists must be knowledgeable about the links between physical and mental
health, be sensitive to the possibility of organic problems contributing to psychological impairment
and be aware that their work ay be subpoenaed and they may be required to testify in court
• Psychologists play a significant role in health promotion, treatment of disease, and
rehabilitation
• In 1980 WHO developed the international classification of functioning, disability, and
health to provide a standard language to describe health
• ICF defines functioning in terms of body functions, activities, and participation
• ICF defines disability as impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction
• WHO has adopted an integrated biopsychosocial model meaning it takes into account
biological, individual, and social factors
• According to this model an individual’s functioning or disability is determined by
interaction between health conditions and contextual factors
• Contextual factors include individual characteristics such as gender, age, coping style, social
background, education, occupation, etc.
• Participation and Activity limitation survey (PALS) from 2006 showed a 14.3% disability
rate
• Disability rate increases with age and was lowest among children (3.7%) for whom the most
common disability was related to chronic health condition such as asthma or a learning
disability
• Among working aged adults the most common type of disability was related to pain,
followed by mobility and agility limitations
• In adults aged over 65 the disability rated was 43.3% with the most common disability being
mobility problems
• More than half of those over 75 reported some kind of disability
• Health psychology involves application of psychological research in efforts to promote
healthy lifestyles as well as help people adjust to health problems
Health Psychologist (APA): psychologists whose careers focus on research and teaching related to
health
Clinical health psychologist: refers to those who are also health care providers
• For pediatric health psychology also need to know developmental psychology along with
behavioral medicine and psychological issues related to health
• Clinical health psychologists can work with patients dealing with any type of health problem
• Some clinical psychologists engage in assessment and intervention
• Health psychologists must be knowledgeable about the physical disorders from which their
patients suffer (risk factors, prognosis, characteristics, treatment procedures)
• Health psychologist must also consider psychological issued whether the patient meets
diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder in addition to a physical disorder, the patient’s
understanding of the condition and how it is likely to affect his/her life
• Must also consider the social context-the patients resources, quality of relationships, extent
of support and cultural issues
• Clinical health psychologists often employed in a hospital or community health clinic but
can also work in private practice
Clinical application of biopsychosocial model
i. Illness variables
a. Symptoms and course of illness
b. Factors that elevate the risk of illness
c. Diagnostic procedures
d. Treatment procedures
ii. The patient
a. Mental health and disorder
b. Personality traits and coping styles or mechanisms
c. Educational and vocational issues
d. Impact of illness on subjective distress, social functioning, activity level, self-care,
and overall quality of life
iii. Social, family and cultural contexts
a. Quality of couple and family relationships
b. Social support
c. Relationship with health care providers
d. Patient’s cultural background
iv. The health care system
a. Medical organization
b. Insurance coverage for diagnostic and treatment procedures
c. Geographical, social, and psychological barriers to accessing health services
d. Existence of disability benefits for medical condition
-Because pain is a subjective experience we rely on individual reports to let us know how much
pain a person is suffering: no objective way in which we can judge a person’s pain
• Until recently many health care professionals assumed babies and very young children did
not feel pain
Patrick McGrath and co. developed innovative strategies to measure pain in infants and children
and adults incapable of expressing pain verbally
Acute pain: a short-term sensation that serves an unpleasant but useful function, it can usually be
relieved in different ways including the application of heat or cold, rest, distraction, or the
administration of analgesics
Chronic pain: pain that persists for more than 6 months
• Pain management is multidimensional including physical measures such as administration
of medication and psychological interventions such as training in distraction strategies
McGrath and co. Methods to manage children’s acute pain
Psychological:
• Presence of a parent or other special person
• Encouragement to ask questions and express feelings
• Provision of simple, accurate information about a medical procedure
• Provision of some control
• Distraction
• Imagination: thinking of activities associated with being calm and relaxed
• Suggestion that the child let the pain slip away
• Play and silliness
• Encouragement that the child is doing well
Physical:
Document Summary
In 1980 who developed the international classification of functioning, disability, and health to provide a standard language to describe health. Icf defines functioning in terms of body functions, activities, and participation. Health psychologist (apa): psychologists whose careers focus on research and teaching related to health. Patrick mcgrath and co. developed innovative strategies to measure pain in infants and children and adults incapable of expressing pain verbally. Acute pain: a short-term sensation that serves an unpleasant but useful function, it can usually be relieved in different ways including the application of heat or cold, rest, distraction, or the administration of analgesics. Chronic pain: pain that persists for more than 6 months: pain management is multidimensional including physical measures such as administration of medication and psychological interventions such as training in distraction strategies. Mcgrath and co. methods to manage children"s acute pain . Imagination: thinking of activities associated with being calm and relaxed.
