health psychology 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of health according to the WHO?
a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Describe the biomedical approach to health and illness?
it focuses solely on normal and abnormal physical process within the body, and the physical process of disease
Outline some limitations of the biomedical approach
- only focuses on the physical state of the body (ignores the WHO definition of health)
- reflects a ‘treatment paradigm’ focused on disease
- does not recognise psychology or society in cause and treatment
- does not recognise psychosocial benefits of some preventative activities
- does not consider social influences on access to prevention and care
What is a ‘treatment paradigm’?
A treatment philosophy
Give examples of how the biomedical approach may overlook prevention of disease
- half of all cancers are caused by smoking, alcohol and/or being overweight
- half of all disability-adjusted life years are attributed to environmental, occupational, behavioural and metabolic risk factors
Define the biopsychosocial approach to health and illness
focuses on how psychological and social factors are involved in physical disease processes
In the biopsychosocial approach, what does the word ‘psychological’ actually consist of?
- behavioural factors
- cognitive factos
What are some behavioural factors involved in the biopsychosocial model?
- health protective behaviours
- self management
- screening behaviours
- health risk behaviours
Give examples of ‘health protective behaviours’ in the biopsychosocial model?
- exercise/physical activity
- diet/nutrition
- sleep
Give examples of ‘self management’ behaviours from the biopsychosocial model
- vaccination
- self surveillance (TSE, BSE)
Give examples of ‘screening behaviours’ from the biopsychosocial model
- hypertensions, blood cholesterol screening
- mammogram, cervical smear
- dental checks
- PSA
Give examples of ‘health risk behaviours’ from the biopsychosocial model
- smoking
- alcohol/drug use
- unsafe sex
- risky driving
What is a placebo?
an inert or innocuous ‘treatment’
What is the placebo effect?
a measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health not attributed to treatment
What is the nocebo effect?
when an inert substance produces symptoms of harm
How common is the placebo effect?
It is observed in around half of people
Give an example of the placebo effect in action
the ‘efficacy’ of Prozac for mild depression is largely a placebo effect
Give an example of the nocebo effect
beliefs and expectations have a greater influence on the experience of menopause than measurable physiological changes
How do the effects of placebo and nocebo work?
- the effects are due to a combination of psychological and physiological mechanisms
- e.g expectancy, classical conditioning, health-related behaviour
How can the biopsychosocial approach explain some issues (use example of stress)?
- prolonged stress impairs immunity
- stress depends on the perception of a situation
- perception of a situation is affected by social support
How can social support protect people?
- lower physiological reactivity to stress
- lower risk of premature death
- lower risk of dementia
Who does the biopsychosocial approach place responsibility of health on?
the individual and society
What are the strengths of the biopsychosocial approach?
- treats the whole person
- acknowledges biographical and psychological factors
- recognises the influence of social context
What are the limitations of the biopsychosocial approach?
- macro-level factors such as legislation, infrastructure, service provision are often ignored
- a focus on individual behaviour may distract from social responsibility for health
- often little acknowledgment of cultural factors
