Health Psychology - CH.1

Question 1

What is Health Psychology?

Answer 1

The study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare

Question 2

What does Health Psychology Focus on?

Answer 2

1) Promote/Maintain Healthy Behaviors
2) Prevent/Treat Illness
3) Improve the Health Care System

Question 3

The Mind Body Relationship (TIMELINE)
What was the PreHistoric belief regarding illnesses?

Answer 3

That Evil Spirits were in the body of the person

Question 4

The Mind Body Relationship (TIMELINE)
What was the Ancient Greek’s belief regarding illnesses?

Answer 4

The Humoral Theory: which is the theory in which the four elements of the human body (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm) had to be in line; balance. And each element was associated with a characteristic.

Question 5

The Mind Body Relationship (TIMELINE)
What was the Middle Age’s belief regarding illnesses?

Answer 5

That illness came from G-D, as a form of “punishment”

Question 6

The Mind Body Relationship (TIMELINE)
What was the Renissance’s belief regarding illnesses?

Answer 6

Enhanced SCIENTIFIC knowledge and ASSESSMENT.
- Knowledge is gained from LABORATORIES
- Diagnosis and treatment are based on organic and cellular pathology.

Question 7

The Mind Body Relationship (TIMELINE)
What was the Modern Day’s belief regarding illnesses?

Answer 7

The Biomedical Model:
1) Predominant approach to health for ~300 years
2) All illness can be explained through aberrant somatic BODILY PROCESSES
3) Psychological and social processes are largely IRRELEVANT to disease

Question 8

What PROBLEM can you see with the biomedical model?

Answer 8

The problem with the Biomedical Model:
* Cannot address puzzles that face practitioners when BIOLOGICAL APPROACH DO NOT OFFER THE FULL SOLUTION.
* Fails to recognize social and psychological processes as powerful influences
* Emphasizes ILLNESS rather than focusing on behavior that enhance health.

Question 9

What is the SOLUTION to the biomedical model?

Answer 9

*Illness and health are consequences of the interplay of BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL FACTORS.
*Maintains that the MACRO-LEVEL and MICRO-LEVEL processes continually interact to influence health and illness.
*Emphasizes both health and illness

Question 10

Clinical Implications of the Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 10

*Understanding the interacting role of biological, psychological, and social factors informs DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLANNING
*Emphasis on the RELATIONSHIP B/W PATIENT AND THEIR PRACTITIONER, which improves:
1) Patient’s use of services
2) Efficacy of treatment
3) Rapidity w/ which illness is resolved