P10 - HealthPsy - Q1-What is psychological health? Describe the scope of health psychology.
Prepared by: Srinivas Adapa; Content Source: https://www.coursehero.com/file/plkap2/The-Scope-of-Health-Psychology-Two-perspectives-Perspective-1-Psychology/
Definition
Health psychology studies the effects of biological, social, and mental factors on health,
Health psychology, also called medical psychology or behavioral medicine, is a branch of psychology focusing on how biological, social, and psychological factors impact health and well-being.
Goal
The goal of health psychology is to examine the effects of peoples; thoughts, emotions, motivations and actions on their health.
Health psychologist
Health psychologists strive to promote overall health and prevent illness.
Health psychologists apply their expertise in many settings, including private practices, hospitals and primary care programs, universities, corporations, government agencies and specialty practices, such as oncology, pain management, rehabilitation and smoking cessation.
Scope of Health Psychology: Two Perspectives
Perspective-1: Psychology effects on health
There is an increasing recognition that health is affected by psychological processes and their influences on our behaviors Many illnesses have behavioural causes (e.g., drinking, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise) Psychological processes like stress have a major impact on physiologic functioning and thus risk for health problemsMedical professionals can use psychological theory and methods to prevent or eliminate unhealthy behaviours (e.g. smoking, poor diet).Top 5 factors contributing to Global Burden of Disease (explains 30%):1. Childhood and maternal underweight (related to poverty)2. Unprotected sex3. High blood pressure4. Smoking5. Drinking.
Perspective 2: Health effects on psychology
Health also affects psychological processes Health problems often lead to psychological (e.g., emotional) difficulties Our definition of health suggests that these psychological consequences should also be addressed by health care providers Medical encounters have significant psychosocial features (e.g. communication issues, fear arousal, medical error)Psychological concepts can assist in managing these aspects of medical encountersPatients respond to illness and treatments in different ways and psychological interventions can be helpful for , e.g. information, preparation, relaxation, guided imagery, social support, counselling.
Biomedical Model
Physicians intervene when the body has an illness or disease, prescribing pills or surgical procedures. With this model "find it - fix it" nothing else is done for the patient until the body malfunction next time.
BioPsychoSocial Model
Biomedical factors are unimportant and not sufficient to understand health and illness. Illness may be caused by microorganisms, dietary deficiencies or by malfunctions in critical bodily systems as as immune system or cardiovascular system.
The biopsychosocial model recognizes that psychological and social factors are important in disease, illness and health. This model does not separates mind and body.
Physical Vs. Psychological Factors
In the case of infections disease, it is certainly physical factors are important and not psychological. But a closer 100% reveals that psychological factors are quite important. For example: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) may not be diagnosed till a person is infected with it. Here psychological factors are important.
At certain point of illness psychological factors seem to play a crucial role.For example: heart attack. Whether one experiences a heart attack, in the first place, and whether one resumes normally, such as well being that includes physical, mental and social dimensions.
Psychological techniques cannot replace good medicine, just as medical technology alone is insufficient for promoting effective health. Together, psychology and medicine can elevate the treatment of illness to levels never before achieved.
It is important to consider that no single type of therapy is right for everyone, and health psychology can be somewhat limited in its scope. For instance, people who are not dealing with any health issues may not find health psychology particularly relevant or helpful.