Health Psychology

This simple and concise introduction to the psychology of health is the perfect text for students new to the area. Topics covered include health policy and epidemiology, genetic factors in disease, the experience of illness as a patient, beliefs and attitudes, stress, pain and healthy lifestyles.

List of illustrations

xi

Preface

xiii

Acknowledgements

xv

Introduction to health psychology

1

(18)

Defining health psychology

1

(1)

Historical perspective on health and illness

2

(1)

The biomedical model

3

(2)

The biopsychosocial model

5

(4)

Social and environmental factors

6

(1)

A new model of health

7

(2)

Psychology and health

9

(1)

Models of behaviour change

10

(6)

The health belief model (HBM)

11

(2)

The stages of change model

13

(1)

Comparing the models

14

(2)

Summary

16

(3)

Social epidemiology and health policy

19

(12)

What is epidemiology?

19

(1)

Mortality and morbidity

20

(4)

Research into morbidity and mortality

23

(1)

Quality of life

24

(2)

Health policy

26

(1)

Summary

27

(4)

Symptoms of illness and pain

31

(18)

Symptoms of illness and pain: adopting sick-role behaviour

31

(5)

Illness behaviour vs. sick-role behaviour

32

(1)

Social and demographic factors

32

(1)

Symptom characteristics

33

(2)

Social construction of health and illness

35

(1)

Introduction to pain

36

(1)

Defining pain

36

(1)

History of pain

37

(1)

An early model of pain

38

(1)

Characteristics of pain

38

(5)

Injury without pain

39

(1)

Delayed pain following injury

39

(1)

Pain without injury

40

(1)

Phantom limb pain

41

(1)

Pain out of proportion to the injury

42

(1)

Theories of pain

43

(3)

Specificity theory

43

(1)

Pattern theories

43

(1)

Gate control theory

44

(2)

Summary

46

(3)

Pain: Assessment, management and treatment

49

(22)

Measuring pain

49

(6)

Physiological measures

49

(2)

Behavioural assessment

51

(1)

Self-reports

51

(4)

Medical treatments for pain

55

(16)

Medical treatments

55

(4)

Psychological treatments of pain

59

(9)

Multimodal approaches

68

(1)

Multidisciplinary treatments: the pain clinic

68

(1)

Summary

69

(2)

Doctor-patient communication

71

(14)

The patient-practitioner relationship

71

(6)

Research into doctor-patient communication

72

(5)

Compliance with medical advice

77

(4)

Predicting patient compliance

78

(1)

Patient satisfaction

78

(1)

Patient understanding

79

(1)

Patient recall

80

(1)

Psychological aspects of hospitalisation

81

(1)

Preparation for surgery

82

(2)

Summary

84

(1)

Psychological factors in illness

85

(16)

The mind-body issue in health

85

(1)

The role of psychological factors in chronic health problems

86

(1)

Chronic ill-health problems

86

(6)

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

86

(1)

The role of psychology in the study of HIV and AIDS

87

(3)

Interim summary

90

(1)

Coronary heart disease (CHD)

91

(1)

The role of psychology in CHD

91

(1)

Terminal illness

92

(6)

Cancer

92

(1)

Prevalence of cancer

93

(1)

The role of psychology in cancer

93

(5)

Adjustment to illness

98

(1)

Summary

99

(2)

Lifestyles and health

101

(22)

Aspects of lifestyle

101

(2)

Research into lifestyles

102

(1)

Exercise and nutrition

103

(8)

Physical exercise

103

(2)

Physical benefits of exercise

105

(2)

Psychological benefits of exercise

107

(1)

Nutrition: diet and health

108

(3)

Obesity and eating disorders

111

(9)

Eating disorders

113

(6)

Bulimia

119

(1)

Summary

120

(3)

Stress and stress management

123

(18)

Nature of stress

123

(1)

Physiology of stress

124

(9)

Role of the nervous system

124

(3)

Role of the neuroendocrine system

127

(1)

Adrenal glands

128

(1)

Theories of stress

128

(1)

Selye's general adaptation syndrome

129

(2)

Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) transactional model of stress

131

(2)

Coping with stress

133

(1)

Stress management

134

(3)

Stress inoculation

134

(3)

Stress and illness

137

(1)

The role of the immune system in stress

137

(1)

Summary

138

(3)

Study aids

141

(18)

Improving your essay writing skills

141

(1)

Practice essay 1

142

(6)

Practice essay 2

148

(5)

Practice essay 3

153

(6)

Glossary

159

(8)

Web-site addresses for additional information

167

(2)

Bibliography

169

(14)

Index

183

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Summary

Table of Contents

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