Models of Disease Flashcards
Define psychology
The science of how people think, feel, and behave
What is health psychology?
The contribution of the discipline of psychology to;
- Preventing illness
- Promoting good health
- Helping with treatment
- Understanding the psychological correlates of illness
- Improve the health care system and health policy
What is medicine traditionally not interested in?
Psychogical or social factors
What is the focus traditionally on in medicine?
Physical body and biological causes of disease
What model of disease is dominant in Western Medicine?
Biomedical
How is illness understood in the biomedical model?
In terms of biological and physiological processes
What does treatment involve in the biomedical model?
Physical intervention, including drugs and surgery
What is the biomedical model associated with?
Major advancements in modern medicine
What are the criticisms of the biomedical model?
- Could be considered too narrow a picture
- Doesn’t consider if psychological and social factors impact health
What has happened to the death rate in England and Wales over the past 150 years?
It has halved
What was the infant mortality rate in England and Wales in a. 1900, and b. Now?
- A - 140 per 1000
- B - <5 per 1000
What was the life expectancy in a. 1901 and b. Now?
- A - 47
- B - 80
What happened to the death rate from measles?
They have dropped dramatically due to improvements in social carre and quality of life, including better housing and nutrition.
After the vaccine, there was a decline in incidence, however decline in death dropped before vaccine was introduced
What is the drop in death rate in England and Wales due to?
- Medical advancements
- Social improvements
What medical advancements have contributed to the reduced death rates?
- Development of vaccines
- New drugs
- Improvement in surgical techniques
