Chapter 1-Introduction(1) (1).ppt

Introduction to Health Psychology Introduction Objectives To be able to define health psychology To Understand factors led to development of health psychology To know different health models What is Health? Illness/Wellness Continuum Health Psychology Concerned with the ways in which we, as indi...

Introduction to Health Psychology Introduction Objectives To be able to define health psychology To Understand factors led to development of health psychology To know different health models What is Health? Illness/Wellness Continuum Health Psychology Concerned with the ways in which we, as individuals, behave and interact with others in sickness and in health. What are the physiological bases of emotion? How do they relate to health and illness? What is stress? Can certain behaviours predispose us to particular illnesses? Can educational interventions prevent illnesses? What is Health Psychology? Study of social, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional factors that influence the: Maintenance of health Development of illness and disease Course of illness or disease Patient’s and family’s response to illness and disease Definition of health psychology. “The aggregate of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to… 1. “the promotion and maintenance of health”, 2. “the prevention and treatment of illness”, 3. “the identification of aetiologic and diagnostic correlates of health, illness, and related dysfunction”, 4. “the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation.” (Matarazzo, 1982). When & How did Health Psychology begin? What Factors Led to the Development of Health Psychology? What Factors Led to the Development of Health Psychology? Models of Health: The Biomedical Model  Diseases come from outside the body and invade it, causing internal physical changes or  Diseases originate in the body as internal, involuntary physical changes.  Diseases are caused by chemical imbalances, bacteria, viruses or genetic pre-disposition.  Individuals are not responsible for their illnesses, which are from biological changes beyond their control. People who are ill are victims.  Treatment should consist of vaccination, surgery, chemotherapy or radio therapy, all of which aim to change the Biological Factors Genetics Physiology Gender Age Vulnerability to stress Immune system Nutrition Medications Models of Health Biopsychosocial Model Current dominant paradigm All conditions of health and disease have mental and social components Main focus = health (prevention not cure) Models of Health Biopsychosocial Model “health (wellness and illness) is a function of biological, psychological, and social factors in continual interaction” The Biopsychosocial Model  “ It would be more appropriate to call our healthcare systems disease care systems, as the primary aim is to treat or cure people, rather than promote health or prevent diseases” (Maes & Van Elderen, 1998).  Bio: genetic, viruses, bacterial, lesions, structural defects, gender  Psycho: cognitions (e.g. expectations of health), emotions (e.g. fear of treatment), behaviour (e.g smoking, exercise, diet, alcohol consumption, stress, pain.  Social Norms of behaviour e.g. smoking/not smoking.  Pressures to change e.g. peer pressure, expectations, parental pressures.  Social values placed on health.  Social class  Ethnicity  Employment  Gender expectations The Social aspect of the Biopsychosocial Model The Biopsychosocial model offers a holistic approach. The person as a whole has to be looked after. Both at micro-level e.g.causes, such as chemical imbalance and at macro-level, such as the extent of social support need to be taken into account. These processes interact to determine someone’s health status. The Biopsychosocial Model from Factors and Systems Perspectives Psychological factors  Personality (characteristic ways of thinking and feeling  Self-efficacy, beliefs (cognition)  Personal control  Optimistic bias  Social support  Stress  Coping skills  Diet  Risky behaviors  Adherence to medical advice  Pain  Emotional (feelings) Sociological factors Poverty Ethnic background Cultural beliefs Racism Living with chronic illness Key Beliefs that inform the Biopsychosocial Model Individuals are not just passive victims, but are responsible for taking their medication and changing their beliefs and behaviour. Psychological factors contribute to the aetiology (causes) of illness. They are not just consequences of illness. According to Ogden (2002) health psychology aims to: Evaluate the role of behaviour in the aetiology of illness, such as the links between smoking, coronary heart disease, cholesterol level, high blood pressure. Key Beliefs that inform the Biopsychosocial Model Beliefs predict unhealthy behavioursFor example, smoking, alcohol consumption and high fat diets are related to beliefs and belief about health and illness can be used to predict behaviour. Understand the role of psychological factors in the experience of illness. For example, understanding the psychological consequences of illness could help alleviate pain, nausea, vomiting ,anxiety and depression. Evaluate the role of psychological factors in the treatment of illness. Relation of health psychology to other health-related fields Medicine Psychosomatic Cardiology Oncology, etc. Health Education Nutrition Sociolog y Nutritio n Exercise Phys. Psychology Behavioural health Behavioural medicine Health Psychology Physiolo gy Recent developments in health psychology. Health promotion Psychological states and illness Cognitive factors Stress and illness Coping Social support Social factors: class and gender Pain Pain management Adherence to treatment