Understanding Medical Psychology

• Medical psychology bridges psychology and medicine.
• It focuses on how psychological factors impact physical health and illness.
• The World Health Organization defines health as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
• Medical psychology studies physical illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and coronary heart disease.
• It focuses on health behaviors like diet, exercise, sleep, and medication adherence.
• It considers illness beliefs, behavior change, and understanding habit development.
• It explores why people in the same environment have different health outcomes.
• It studies how people respond differently to disease and its progression.

Health Psychology Perspectives

• The focus includes behaviors, beliefs, and outcomes in patients
• Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to support patients
• Caregivers who are family members support without professional responsibility
• Policy-makers allocate resources, fund healthcare, and set health standards

Key Assumptions of Medical Psychology

• Health and illness result from biological, psychological, and social factors
• Health and illness exist on a continuum
• Psychological factors influence health through stress, behavior, and coping strategies
• Holistic approach to treatment includes cognitive therapy, behavior change, and stress management
• There are advantages because health & illness are interconnected, individual variability in health outcomes can be identified, and psychological & social effects considered

History of Medicine

• Hippocrates (460–370 BC) emphasized natural causes of illness over supernatural beliefs and his contributions made him the "Father of Medicine"
• The Theory of 4 Humors stated that health depends on balance with blood for energy & vitality, phlegm for apathy, yellow bile for aggression, and black bile for depression
• Hippocrates used a holistic approach and focused on diet, environment, and lifestyle.
• Galen (AD 131–200) expanded Hippocratic ideas and the Theory of Opposites which balanced humors to treat illness
• Galen influenced medical thought for over 1,000 years

Middle Ages

• Illness was viewed as punishment or demonic possession in the Middle Ages
• Prayers, rituals, and exorcisms for treatment were common because religious figures acted as healers.

Renaissance – Descartes’ Mind-Body Dualism

• The mind and body were separated
• A shift occurred toward scientific observation and rationalism

Health Psychology

• Key perspectives include models for understanding and addressing health and illness.
• The Biomedical Model of Health was dominant for 300 years
• It views illness as caused by abnormal physical processes
• Illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, or genetic predisposition
• "Find it – fix it" is the approach to treatment, focusing on vaccines, medicine, surgery, and chemotherapy
• The biomedical model is doctor-centered, limiting patient control, and ignores psychological & social factors
• This model cannot explain non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease or cancer

Biopsychosocial Model

• The Biopsychosocial Model was developed by Engel in 1977, and states that health is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
• This model considers patient responsibility and emphasizes lifestyle choices
• Benefits come from a holistic approach to treatment: Cognitive therapy, behavior change, and stress management
• Advantages are that health & illness are interconnected and individual variability is identified

Biomedical vs. Biopsychosocial Model

• The Biomedical Model focuses on pathogens and injuries for diagnosis, whereas the Biopsychosocial Model focuses on factors that are physical, psychological, & social
• In the Biomedical Model Patient responsibility is non-existent, whereas in the Biopsychosocial model lifestyle has influence
• The Biomedical treatments are drugs and surgery, where Biopsychosocial treatments are more holistic including psychology
• Doctors make all decisions in the Biomedical model, whereas the model is built around working with the patient
• Psychology has a minal role in the Biomedical model, whereas it is central to health outcomes in the Biopsychosocial model

Hypertension Case Study

• With the biomedical view the focus is medication & blood pressure
• Whereas in the biopsychosocial view, stress, lifestyle, & social support all affect hypertension.
• Interventions such as stress reduction and behavioral therapy are utilized in the biopsychosocial view

Health-Illness Continuum

• Health is not a static state
• Health affecting factors include lifestyle choices like diet, smoking, and exercise, coping mechanisms for stress, access to social support, and healthcare

Examples

• In chronic disease like diabetes, poor medication adherence can impact health, whereas psychological help can provide better results
• For mental health recovery, a lack of social support impacts depression, whereas lifestyle changes and therapy can lead to recovery

Dimensions of Wellness

• Physical: Exercise, nutrition, sleep
• Intellectual: Reading, learning
• Emotional: Journaling, therapy
• Social: Friendships, community
• Spiritual: Beliefs, meditation
• Vocational: Career, work-life balance
• Financial: Budgeting, saving
• Environmental: Clean living spaces

Research Methods in Health Psychology

• Qualitative Research: Interviews, focus groups
• Quantitative Research: Experiments, surveys
• Longitudinal Studies: Track health over time
• Meta-Analyses: Combine multiple studies
• Cross-Sectional Studies: Compare groups at a single point

Western vs. Non-Western Medicine

• Western practices are acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage therapy
• People choose medicine because it is perceived as more natural
• Dissatisfaction with standard Western medicine or when seeking a "last resort” are also influences

Conclusion

• Health Psychology integrates biology, psychology, and social sciences
• Health & illness exist on a continuum
• Patient involvement & psychological factors are crucial in healthcare
• Research methods help refine psychological healthcare practices

Overview of Developmental Milestones

• Development occurs in three domains: physical, psychological/cognitive, and social
• Benchmarks for progress are developmental milestones
• Milestones reflect average ages, not rigid rules

Pregnancy and Childbirth

• Pregnancy emotions such as joy, excitement, anxiety, and fear are influenced by social, personal, and cultural elements
• Support, reassurance, and information from healthcare professionals are crucial for parent education, and formal childbirth education improves infant outcomes.
• 85% of babies are born without complications. Prenatal screening helps predict health risks.

Challenges in Pregnancy and Childbirth

• Access to healthcare, genetic influences, and environmental factors provide challenges
• Socioeconomic and geographic obstacles hinder prenatal care
• Maternal health is affected by limited facilities and financial constraints
• Fetal development can be affected by genetic conditions like Phenylketonuria, Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Tay-Sachs Disease, and the risk of down syndrome increases with maternal age
• Birth defects are be caused by the introduction of teratogens such as drugs, chemicals, and malnutrition during pregnancy
• Alcohol exposure can result in fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Exposure of Nicotine increases the risk of miscarriage, premature labor and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI).
• Cultural beliefs regarding pregnancy are often strong influences on pregnancy and maternal access to healthcare

Prenatal Development Stages

• Mitosis is the process a zygote undergoes as it implants in the uterus: the germinal period (0–2 weeks)
• Differentiation of major organs and structutres (brain, heart, limbs) takes place: the Embryonic Period (3-8 weeks)
• Rapid growth, organ maturation, and sensory experiences: Fetal Period (9 weeks-birth)

Age of Viability & Preterm Birth

• With support a fetus is viable from weeks 22-26
• Responses to stimuli begin around 23 weeks
• Better lung function & stronger reflexes: 35 weeks
• Fetuses can learn and respond to stories (Very preterm (28-31 weeks)

Sensitive/Critical Periods

• During development environmental influences have a profound effect

Parenthood and Newborn Attachment

• Secure attachment to a parent or caregiver translates to healthy relationship attachments later in life
• Emotional/relationship difficulties can occur from insecure attachments
• The caregiver becomes the 'safe base' for a child to distress

Attachment Styles

• Seeking comfort when distressed is a secure attachment
• Emotional distance from caregiver an avoidant attachment
• Intense emotions, like fear and anxiety are ambivalent/resistant attachments
• Inconsistent responses generate disorganized attachments

Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood

• With better sanitation standards, nutrition, and vaccines mortality rates decreased
• Boys are more prone to accidents because of genetics and social upbringing like sport and less supervision
• puberty occurs during adolescence and is the onset of sexual maturity.
• Identity and values explored
• Peer influence shapes identity
• Influence from peers are greater than parental guidance and those influence on social skills are long term

Marriage and Health

• Continuing formation of identity: Emerging adulthood (20-25 years)
• Decline in sensory abilities (vision, hearing), bodily aging increases (45-65 years)
• Peak physical health: Early adulthood (25-40/45 years)
• Marital relations improve health standards and quality
• Depression and anxiety arise from difficulties during marriage
• Menopause occurs ~ age 50 characterized by hot flashes and declining libido.
• societies who are status conscious, women in menopause are reported less

Theories of Aging

• Aging is characterized by declines testorone and increased loss of mass
• Prevention comes from check ups and fitness
• Cell reproducibility declines and body deterioates from aging
• Factors impacting again are social, biological, and psychological
• Brain volume, connections, and episodic brain function decreases with brain function

Clinical Practice with Older Adults

• Response times lengthen while information filtration gets more difficult
• To effectively communicate, be patient, clear, and avoid patronizing

Social factors and aging

• Degenerative disorders are most common; around ~35.6 million globally.
• Progressive brain function results in less cognitive function
• A&B Plaque and neuro tangles characterize the disorder
• Memory loss and disorentation and progression can be slowed with treamtent
• Isolation occurs but older adults can stay active and find alternative

Social Aspects of Aging

• A disinterest causes a withdrawl of society
• Activity and interest greatly improve aging and its social affects
• Reviewing one's life and reflecting on the positive side can improve aging

Retirement and Social Perceptions

• Stereotypes can be harmful and those who are actively social age better.
• Healthcare is important and should be factored in
• Health factors should be tailored and holistic for a productive life.

Health Behaviors Definition and Examples

• Health behaviors are negative or positive and influence state of health
• Health behaviors are brushing teeth, maintaining a diet, and wearing a belt
• behaviors can be negative like smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, or an unhealthy diet.

Interconnection & Stability of Health Behaviors

• Excelling can affect other habits, so focusing on them individually is important
• Health behaviors shift and so continuous reinforcement is greatly important

Factors of Health Behaviors

• Outside factors are external stresses
• different impacts across life and one for stress vs social
• Health beliefs and motivations may differ

Behaviors Differ

• Habits differ from peer pressure

Health States and Help

• Screenings are important with a healthy diet
• Some follow through while others do no

Recovery

• Some can be treated
• Commitment is important

Health Beliefs Help

• Behaviours are developed and learning helps those occur

Direct and Indirect Learning

• Stimuli are associated
• Intervention can help

Punishment is Necessary

• Re enforcement is important

People Learn

• Watch from others is important and habit function helps

Changes in Motivation

• Values are important social is better, motivation is greater and better with life

Stage Process

• Pre contemplation to a plan is vital

SMART Goals are the name of the game

• specific measurable actionable and realistic is greatly necessary

Grabbing Attention

• is important for health

Pros are Better

• Impact reduces extreme effects

Better health comes from

• groups and prevention

Social

• Workplace intervention
• Consumer management

Reinforcement

• Habits form better

Reinforcing

• Behaviours needs social health.

Health Beliefs

• Behaviors are shaped and has an influence

Health factors

• Actions form

Health Factors Help

• Evaluation and actions help.

Definition of Personal Perceptions

• smoking greatly helps behavior and actions.

Components and Attitudes

• actions and health is important

Balance

• Actions are important to health.

Control

• actions improve health
• optimism has greatly improve health.

Health Comes

• Confidence action and beliefs improve health.

Dissonance

• Beliefs improve habits and information greatly improves actions.

Social Pressure

• external forces promote change.

Changes and Benefits

• Health Beliefs are positive actions

Harm and Factors

• High bars help change actions and outcomes
• Influence from actions and actions will have greatly change.

Theory of a plan to promote actions and help.

• Plan to have an action that has control.
• Social influence and behavior improve health.

Help with improvement to improve action

• Beliefs greatly improve, they help to cope with health and self regulating is well promoted.

There Are

• great things that improve.

Action for Control

• Factors reduce and help with a good mindset.

Takeaway

• Actions help actions, action plans work, health works.

Pain is

• an effect with damage
• Pain is subjective

Nociception

• Pain is the physical reaction to stimula

Survival

• helps the body

Sensitivity and Pain

• Pain and sensations are rare

Two Durations

• Acute and chronic

Pain in Three

• Varies with sensitivity
• Is related to issues internal and external
• Nerve damage and intermitent sensations help.

Transmittions

• Fibers carry signals
• Neural pathways effect pain.

Body

• The body helps process

Actions

• Stress can be a factor
• Amplify the factor with anxiety.
• Condition affects movement

The body changes

• There are reactions

Actions help patients

• Placebo action is greater and more helpful

Factors of Placebo

• provider belief vs character, the outcome is all for expectations

Helpful Therapy

• Use a mirro, but make sure you hide where sensation is lost.

Social

• Cultural factors are important

Healthcare

• is impacted by social issues

Self Report

• is key to action

Factors for Consideration

• Pain and mental state
• Quality is also a key consideration.

Behavioural observation

• A person with high pain levels exhibit different behaviour

All factors

• Measure bodily effects.

Good guideline

• By the minute to give proper drugs

Pain management to help one another

• Opioid may work

Therapy and Care

• Is great and effective

Mind

• Can be helpful through control, monitoring and changing mindset

The takeaway is pain is

• an effect with damages.