Clinical Health Psychology 04/22/2014
Objectives
Know the definition of Health Psychology
Understand the models of how psychosocial factors relate to health
Be aware of the range of activities of a health psychologist
Understand examples of psychological interventions related to health outcomes
Definitions: Health Psychology
“the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions to the promotion and
maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of etiologic and diagnostic
correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction, and the analysis and improvement of the health policy
formation”
Definitions: Behavioural Medicine
“the interdisciplinary field concerned with the development and integration of behavioral and biomedical
science, knowledge, and techniques relevant to health and illness and the application of this knowledge
and these techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation”
Common elements in definitions:
Knowledge of psychological research in terms of
Health
Promoting healthy lifestyles
Helping people adjust to health problems
Research
Health Psychology
1940’s
psychosomatic medicine
1960’s
psychosocial factors in disease
stressful life events (Holmes and Rahe, 1967)
Type A personality Front of the chairs wore out quickly b/c they sit at the end of their chairs
Hostility element of Type A personality is linked to coronary heart disease
Shift from acute infections illness to more chronic illness
1970’s
Lalonde report (1974)
Huge contribution from Canada
Psychoneuroimmunology (Ader & Cohen, 1975)
Biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977)
Says that it is important to look at psychological and social factors along with biological factors in terms of
disease
1980’s
behavioural pathogens (Mattarazzo, 1984)
determinants of health
Etiology of Illness: Social support
Social Support Scale
Directions: Please indicate how you feel about each of the following statements. (1 = very strongly disagree;
7 = very strongly agree) 1. There is a special person who is around when I am in need. 2. There is a special person with whom I can share joys and sorrows.
3. My family really tries to help me.
4. I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.
5. I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.
6. My friends really try to help me.
7. I can count on my friends when things go wrong.
Health Reaction Inventory (Endler and Parker)
The following are ways of reacting to HEALTH PROBLEMS, such as ILLNESSES, SICKNESSES, and
INJURIES. These are typically difficult, stressful, or upsetting situations. We are interested in your last
illness, sickness, or injury (which you have just reported). Indicate how much you engaged in these types of
activities when you encountered this health problem.
1 = Not at all; 3 = Moderately; 5 = Very Much
1.Think about the good times I’ve had.
2.Stay in bed.
3.Find out more information about the illness.
4.Wonder why it happened to me.
5.Be with other people.
6.Lie down when I feel tired.
7.Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
8.Become angry because it happened to me. despite we are lower than US, we still suck in comparison to the rest of the world Prevention of Illness
Areas of Intervention
Smoking cessation Obesity reduction
Reducing alcohol abuse
Reducing substance abuse
Reducing highfat diets
Increasing physical activity
Increasing motor vehicle safety
Stress management
Chronic disease
Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, kidney disease, spinal cord injury
Highmortality illnesses
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer
Stroke
HIV/AIDs
Pain
Issues
Psychological adjustment
Treatment compliance & medical decision making
Risk perception
Risk reduction appraisal
Preparation for procedures
Death and dying
Treatment of Insomnia – why
More
Less