health psychology

Recent advances in psychological, medical, and physiological research have led to a new way of thinking about health and illness. This conceptualization, which has been labeled the biopsychosocial model, views health and illness as the product of a combination of factors including biological characteristics (e.g., genetic predisposition), behavioral factors (e.g., lifestyle, stress, health beliefs), and social conditions (e.g., cultural influences, family relationships, social support).{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Psychologists who strive to understand how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health and illness are called health psychologists. Health psychologists use their knowledge of psychology and health to promote general well-being and understand physical illness.The British Psychological Society. (2011). What is health psychology? A guide for the public. They are specially trained to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness. Health psychologists work with many different health care professionals (e.g., physicians, dentists, nurses, physician's assistants, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, and chaplains) to conduct research and provide clinical assessments and treatment services. Many health psychologists focus on prevention research and interventions designed to promote healthier lifestyles and try to find ways to encourage people to improve their health. For example, they may help people to lose weight or stop smoking. Health psychologists also use their skills to try to improve the healthcare system. For example, they may advise doctors about better ways to communicate with their patients.

Health psychologists work in many different settings including the UK's National Health Service (NHS), private practice, universities, communities, schools and organizations. While many health psychologists provide clinical services as part of their duties, others function in non-clinical roles, primarily involving teaching and research. Leading journals include Health Psychology, the Journal of Health Psychology, the British Journal of Health Psychology,{{cite journal | url = http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)2044-8287 | title = The British Journal of Health Psychology | journal = British Journal of Health Psychology | doi = 10.1111/(ISSN)2044-8287 }} and Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1758-0846&site=1 |title=Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being |access-date=2009-02-18 |archive-date=2011-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211141124/http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1758-0846&site=1 |url-status=dead }} Health psychologists can work with people on a one-to-one basis, in groups, as a family, or at a larger population level.

Health psychology, like other areas of applied psychology, is both a theoretical and applied field. Health psychologists employ diverse research methods. These methods include controlled randomized experiments, quasi-experiments, longitudinal studies, time-series designs, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, qualitative research as well as action research. Health psychologists study a broad range of health phenomena including cardiovascular disease (cardiac psychology), smoking habits, the relation of religious beliefs to health, alcohol use, social support, living conditions, emotional state, social class, and more. Some health psychologists treat individuals with sleep problems, headaches, alcohol problems, etc. Other health psychologists work to empower community members by helping community members gain control over their health and improve quality of life of entire communities.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

ClHP is the application of scientific knowledge, derived from the field of health psychology, to clinical questions that may arise across the spectrum of health care. ClHP is one of the specialty practice areas for clinical and health psychologists. It is also a major contributor to the prevention-focused field of behavioral health and the treatment-oriented field of behavioral medicine. Clinical practice includes education, the techniques of behavior change, and psychotherapy. In some countries, a clinical health psychologist, with additional training, can become a medical psychologist and, thereby, obtain prescription privileges.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

PHP is population-oriented. A major aim of PHP is to investigate potential causal links between psychosocial factors and health at the population level. Public health psychologists present research results to educators, policy makers, and health care providers in order to promote better public health. PHP is allied to other public health disciplines including epidemiology, nutrition, genetics and biostatistics. Some PHP interventions are targeted toward at-risk population groups (e.g., undereducated, single pregnant women who smoke) and not the population as a whole (e.g., all pregnant women).{{cn|date=July 2024}}

CoHP investigates community factors that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals who live in communities. CoHP also develops community-level interventions that are designed to combat disease and promote physical and mental health. The community often serves as the level of analysis, and is frequently sought as a partner in health-related interventions.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

CrHP is concerned with the distribution of power and the impact of power differentials on health experience and behavior, health care systems, and health policy. CrHP prioritizes social justice and the universal right to health for people of all races, genders, ages, and socioeconomic positions. A major concern is health inequalities. The critical health psychologist is an agent of change, not simply an analyst or cataloger. A leading organization in this area is the International Society of Critical Health Psychology.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Pickren and Degni{{cite book | vauthors = Pickren W, Degni S | date = 2011 | chapter = A history of the development of health psychology. | veditors = Friedman HS | title = The Oxford handbook of the development of health psychology | location = Oxford | publisher = Oxford University Press }} and Sanderson{{cite book | vauthors = Sanderson CA | date = 2019 | title = Health psychology: Understanding the mind-body connection | edition = 3rd | location = Los Angeles | publisher = SAGE }} observed that in Europe and North America, occupational health psychology (OHP) emerged as a specialty with its own organizations. The authors noted that OHP owes some of that emergence to health psychology as well as other disciplines (e.g., i/o psychology, occupational medicine). Sanderson underlined examples in which OHP aligns with health psychology, including Adkins's research. Adkins{{cite journal | vauthors = Adkins JA |title=Promoting organizational health: The evolving practice of occupational health psychology. |journal=Professional Psychology: Research and Practice |date=April 1999 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=129–137 |doi=10.1037/0735-7028.30.2.129}} documented the application of behavioral principles to improve working conditions, mitigate job stress, and improve worker health in a complex organization.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Health psychology developed in different forms in different societies.{{cite journal | vauthors = Lubek I, Murray M | title = Doing Histor{y/ies} of Health Psycholog{y/ies} | journal = Journal of Health Psychology | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 361–371 | date = March 2018 | pmid = 29502456 | doi = 10.1177/1359105317753627 | url = http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/4299/3/murray_psy_Specail%20issue%20on%20history%20%281%29.pdf }} Psychological factors in health had been studied since the early 20th century by disciplines such as psychosomatic medicine and later behavioral medicine, but these were primarily branches of medicine, not psychology.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

In 1969, William Schofield prepared a report for the APA entitled The Role of Psychology in the Delivery of Health Services.{{cite journal | vauthors = Schofield W | title = The role of psychology in the delivery of health services | journal = The American Psychologist | volume = 24 | issue = 6 | pages = 565–84 | date = June 1969 | pmid = 5784100 | doi = 10.1037/h0027998 }} While there were exceptions, he found that the psychological research of the time frequently regarded mental health and physical health as separate, and devoted very little attention to psychology's impact upon physical health. One of the few psychologists working in this area at the time, Schofield proposed new forms of education and training for future psychologists. The APA, responding to his proposal, in 1973 established a task force to consider how psychologists could (a) help people to manage their health-related behaviors, (b) help patients manage their physical health problems, and (c) train healthcare staff to work more effectively with patients.{{cite journal | vauthors = Johnston M, Weinman J, Chater A | title = A healthy contribution. | journal = Psychologist | date = December 2011 | volume = 24 | issue = 12 | pages = 890–892 }}

Health psychology began to emerge as a distinct discipline of psychology in the United States in the 1970s. In the mid-20th century there was a growing understanding in medicine of the effect of behavior on health. For example, the Alameda County Study, which began in the 1960s, showed that people who ate regular meals (e.g., breakfast), maintained a healthy weight, received adequate sleep, did not smoke, drank little alcohol, and exercised regularly were in better health and lived longer.{{cite journal | vauthors = Belloc NB, Breslow L | title = Relationship of physical health status and health practices | journal = Preventive Medicine | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 409–21 | date = August 1972 | pmid = 5085007 | doi = 10.1016/0091-7435(72)90014-x }} In addition, psychologists and other scientists were discovering relationships between psychological processes and physiological ones.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sterling P, Eyer J | title = Biological basis of stress-related mortality | journal = Social Science & Medicine. Part E: Medical Psychology | volume = 15 | issue = 1 | pages = 3–42 | date = February 1981 | pmid = 7020084 | doi = 10.1016/0271-5384(81)90061-2 }} These discoveries include a better understanding of the impact of psychosocial stress on the cardiovascular and immune systems, and the early finding that the functioning of the immune system could be altered by learning.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ader R, Cohen N | title = Behaviorally conditioned immunosuppression | journal = Psychosomatic Medicine | volume = 37 | issue = 4 | pages = 333–40 | date = 1975 | pmid = 1162023 | doi = 10.1097/00006842-197507000-00007 }}

Led by Joseph Matarazzo, in 1977, APA added a division devoted to health psychology. At the first divisional conference, Matarazzo delivered a speech that played an important role in defining health psychology. He defined the new field in this way, "Health psychology is the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of diagnostic and etiologic correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction, and the analysis and improvement of the healthcare system and health policy formation."{{cite journal | vauthors = Matarazzo JD | title = Behavioral health and behavioral medicine: frontiers for a new health psychology | journal = The American Psychologist | volume = 35 | issue = 9 | pages = 807–17 | date = September 1980 | pmid = 7416568 | doi = 10.1037/0003-066x.35.9.807 }} Similar organizations were established in other countries, including Australia and Japan.{{cite book | vauthors = Belar CD, McIntyre TM, Matarazzo JD | date = 2003 | chapter = Health psychology | veditors = Freedheim DK, Weiner I | title = Handbook of Psychology | volume = 1 | series= History of Psychology | location = New York | publisher = Wiley }}

In the 1980s there was increasing interest in many European countries in researching psychological aspects of health and illness. In 1986, Stan Maes (1947–2018) of Tilburg University convened a meeting of researchers from Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands. Out of this meeting emerged the European Health Psychology Society which began to organise regular conferences (e.g. Trier, 1988; Utrecht, 1989; Oxford, 1990; Lausanne, 1991; and Leipzig, 1992){{cite journal | vauthors = Johnston M | title = Stan Maes: the founder of European Health Psychology | journal = Psychology & Health | volume = 33 | issue = 11 | pages = 1317–1320 | date = November 2018 | pmid = 30793979 | doi = 10.1080/08870446.2018.1546801 }} and published proceedings from these meetings.{{cite book | vauthors = Schroder H, Reschke K, Johnston M, Maes S |title=Health Psychology: Potential in Diversity |date=1993 |publisher=S. Roderer Verlag |location=Regensburg |isbn=3-89073-656-4 |pages=420}} This society also began to develop its own publications.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://ehps.net/about/ |website=European Health Psychology Society |access-date=14 February 2024}}

Psychologists have been working in medical settings for many years (in the UK sometimes the field was termed medical psychology). Medical psychology, however, was a relatively small field, primarily aimed at helping patients adjust to illness.{{cite journal | vauthors = Murray M | title = The pre-history of health psychology in the United Kingdom: From natural science and psychoanalysis to social science, social cognition and beyond | journal = Journal of Health Psychology | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 472–491 | date = March 2018 | pmid = 28810451 | doi = 10.1177/1359105317705879 }} The BPS's reconsideration of the role of the Medical Section prompted the emergence of health psychology as a distinct field.{{cite book | vauthors = Bennett P | date = 2015 | chapter = Clinical health psychology. | veditors = Hall J, Pilgrim D, Turpin G | title = Clinical psychology in Britain: Historical perspectives | pages = 296–308 | location = Leicester | publisher = BPS }} Marie Johnston and John Weinman argued in a letter to the BPS Bulletin that there was a great need for a Health Psychology Section. In December 1986 the section was established at the BPS London Conference, with Marie Johnston as chair. Annual conferences began to be held and began to map out the areas of interest.{{cite book | vauthors = Bennett P, Weinman J, Spurgeon P |title=Current Developments in Health Psychology |date=1990 |publisher=Harwood Academic |location=Chur/London |isbn=3718650649 |pages=358}} At the Annual BPS Conference in 1993 a review of "Current Trends in Health Psychology" was organized, and a definition of health psychology as "the study of psychological and behavioural processes in health, illness and healthcare" was proposed.{{cite journal | vauthors = Johnston M | date = 1994 | title = Health psychology: Current trends. | journal = The Psychologist | volume = 7 | pages = 114–118 }}

The Health Psychology Section became a Special Group in 1993 and was awarded divisional status within the UK in 1997. The awarding of divisional status meant that the individual training needs and professional practice of health psychologists were recognized, and members were able to obtain chartered status with the BPS. The BPS went on to regulate training and practice in health psychology until the regulation of professional standards and qualifications was taken over by statutory registration with the Health Professions Council in 2010.

A number of relevant trends coincided with the emergence of health psychology, including:

• Epidemiological evidence linking behavior and health.{{cite journal | vauthors = Johnson M, Weinman J, Chater A | date = 2011 | title = A healthy Contribution | journal = Health Psychology | volume= 24 | issue = 12 | pages = 890–902 }}
• The addition of behavioral science to medical school curricula, with courses often taught by psychologists.
• The training of health professionals in communication skills, with the aim of improving patient satisfaction and adherence to medical treatment.
• Increasing numbers of interventions based on psychological theory (e.g., behavior modification).
• An increased understanding of the interaction between psychological and physiological factors leading to the emergence of psychophysiology and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).
• The health domain having become a target of research by social psychologists interested in testing theoretical models linking beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.{{cite book | vauthors = Fishbein M, Ajzen I | date = 1975 | title = Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. | location = Reading, MA | publisher = Addison-Wesley }}
• The emergence of AIDS/HIV, and the increase in funding for behavioral research the epidemic provoked.

The emergence of academic /professional bodies to promote research and practice in health psychology was followed by the publication of a series of textbooks which began to lay out the interests of the discipline.{{cite journal | vauthors = Murray M | title = Social history of health psychology: context and textbooks | journal = Health Psychology Review | volume = 8 | issue = 2 | pages = 215–37 | date = 2014 | pmid = 25053134 | doi = 10.1080/17437199.2012.701058 }}

Health psychologists conduct research to identify behaviors and experiences that promote health, give rise to illness, and influence the effectiveness of health care. They also recommend ways to improve health care policy.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sharman SJ, Garry M, Jacobsen JA, Loftus EF, Ditto PH | title = False memories for end-of-life decisions | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 27 | issue = 2 | pages = 291–6 | date = March 2008 | pmid = 18377150 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.27.2.291 }} Health psychologists have worked on developing ways to reduce smoking{{cite journal | vauthors = Dusseldorp E, van Elderen T, Maes S, Meulman J, Kraaij V | title = A meta-analysis of psychoeduational programs for coronary heart disease patients | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 18 | issue = 5 | pages = 506–19 | date = September 1999 | pmid = 10519467 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.18.5.506 }} in order to promote health and prevent illness. They have also studied the association between illness and individual characteristics. For example, health psychology has found a relation between the personality characteristics of thrill seeking, impulsiveness, hostility/anger, emotional instability, and depression, on one hand, and high-risk driving, on the other.{{cite journal | vauthors = Beirness DJ | date = 1993 | title = Do we really drive as we live? The role of personality factors in road crashes. | journal = Alcohol, Drugs & Driving | volume = 9 | pages = 129–143 }}

Health psychology is also concerned with contextual factors, including economic, cultural, community, social, and lifestyle factors that influence health. Physical addiction impedes smoking cessation. Some research suggests that seductive advertising also contributes to psychological dependency on tobacco,{{cite journal | vauthors = Pierce JP, Gilpin EA | title = A historical analysis of tobacco marketing and the uptake of smoking by youth in the United States: 1890-1977 | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 14 | issue = 6 | pages = 500–8 | date = November 1995 | pmid = 8565924 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.14.6.500 }} although other research has found no relationship between media exposure and smoking in youth.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ferguson CJ, Meehan DC | title = With friends like these...: peer delinquency influences across age cohorts on smoking, alcohol and illegal substance use | journal = European Psychiatry | volume = 26 | issue = 1 | pages = 6–12 | date = January 2011 | pmid = 21067903 | doi = 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.09.002 }} OHP research indicates that people in jobs that combine little decision latitude with a high psychological workload are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.{{cite journal | vauthors = Rosenström T, Hintsanen M, Kivimäki M, Jokela M, Juonala M, Viikari JS, Raitakari OT, Keltikangas-Järvinen L | title = Change in job strain and progression of atherosclerosis: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study | journal = Journal of Occupational Health Psychology | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 139–50 | date = January 2011 | pmid = 21280950 | doi = 10.1037/a0021752 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Johnson JV, Stewart W, Hall EM, Fredlund P, Theorell T | title = Long-term psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular mortality among Swedish men | journal = American Journal of Public Health | volume = 86 | issue = 3 | pages = 324–31 | date = March 1996 | pmid = 8604756 | pmc = 1380510 | doi = 10.2105/ajph.86.3.324 }} Other research reveals a relation between unemployment and elevations in blood pressure.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ilies R, Dimotakis N, Watson D | title = Mood, blood pressure, and heart rate at work: an experience-sampling study | journal = Journal of Occupational Health Psychology | volume = 15 | issue = 2 | pages = 120–30 | date = April 2010 | pmid = 20364910 | doi = 10.1037/a0018350 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Kasl SV, Cobb S | title = Blood pressure changes in men undergoing job loss: a preliminary report | journal = Psychosomatic Medicine | volume = 32 | issue = 1 | pages = 19–38 | date = 1970 | pmid = 5418289 | doi = 10.1097/00006842-197001000-00002 }} Epidemiologic research documents a relation between social class and cardiovascular disease.{{cite journal | vauthors = Marmot M, Theorell T | title = Social Class and Cardiovascular Disease: The Contribution of Work| journal = International Journal of Health Services| volume = 18 | issue = 4 | pages = 659–74 | date = 1988 | pmid = 3235250 | doi = 10.2190/KTC1-N5LK-J1PM-9GRQ }}

Health psychologists also aim to change health behaviors for the dual purpose of helping people stay healthy and helping patients adhere to disease treatment regimens (also see health action process approach). Health psychologists employ cognitive behavioral therapy and applied behavior analysis (also see behavior modification) for that purpose.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Health psychologists promote health through behavioral change, as mentioned above; however, they attempt to prevent illness in other ways as well. Health psychologists try to help people to lead a healthy life by developing and running programmes which can help people to make changes in their lives such as stopping smoking, reducing the amount of alcohol they consume, eating more healthily, and exercising regularly. Campaigns informed by health psychology have targeted tobacco use. Those least able to afford tobacco products consume them most. Tobacco provides individuals with a way of controlling aversive emotional states accompanying daily experiences of stress that characterize the lives of deprived and vulnerable individuals.{{cite journal | vauthors = Whalen CK, Jamner LD, Henker B, Delfino RJ | title = Smoking and moods in adolescents with depressive and aggressive dispositions: evidence from surveys and electronic diaries | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 20 | issue = 2 | pages = 99–111 | date = March 2001 | pmid = 11315734 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.20.2.99}} Practitioners emphasize education and effective communication as a part of illness prevention because many people do not recognize, or minimize, the risk of illness present in their lives. Moreover, many individuals are often unable to apply their knowledge of health practices owing to everyday pressures and stresses. A common example of population-based attempts to motivate the smoking public to reduce its dependence on cigarettes is anti-smoking campaigns.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hershey JC, Niederdeppe J, Evans WD, Nonnemaker J, Blahut S, Holden D, Messeri P, Haviland ML | title = The theory of "truth": how counterindustry campaigns affect smoking behavior among teens | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 24 | issue = 1 | pages = 22–31 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 15631559 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.24.1.22 }}

Health psychologists help to promote health and well-being by preventing illness. Some illnesses can be more effectively treated if caught early. Health psychologists have worked to understand why some people do not seek early screenings or immunizations, and have used that knowledge to develop ways to encourage people to have early health checks for illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Health psychologists are also finding ways to help people to avoid risky behaviors (e.g., engaging in unprotected sex) and encourage health-enhancing behaviors (e.g., regular tooth brushing or hand washing).

Health psychologists also aim at educating health professionals, including physicians and nurses, in communicating effectively with patients in ways that overcome barriers to understanding, remembering, and implementing effective strategies for reducing exposures to risk factors and making health-enhancing behavior changes.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ogden J, Bavalia K, Bull M, Frankum S, Goldie C, Gosslau M, Jones A, Kumar S, Vasant K | title = "I want more time with my doctor": a quantitative study of time and the consultation | journal = Family Practice | volume = 21 | issue = 5 | pages = 479–83 | date = October 2004 | pmid = 15367468 | doi = 10.1093/fampra/cmh502 }}

There is also evidence from OHP that stress-reduction interventions at the workplace can be effective. For example, Kompier and his colleagues{{cite journal | vauthors = Kompier MA, Aust B, van den Berg AM, Siegrist J | title = Stress prevention in bus drivers: evaluation of 13 natural experiments | journal = Journal of Occupational Health Psychology | volume = 5 | issue = 1 | pages = 11–31 | date = January 2000 | pmid = 10658882 | doi = 10.1037/1076-8998.5.1.11 | hdl = 2066/159094 | hdl-access = free }} have shown that a number of interventions aimed at reducing stress in bus drivers has had beneficial effects for employees and bus companies.

Health psychologists investigate how disease affects individuals' psychological well-being. An individual who becomes seriously ill or injured faces many different practical stressors. These stressors include problems meeting medical and other bills, problems obtaining proper care when home from the hospital, obstacles to caring for dependents, the experience of having one's sense of self-reliance compromised, gaining a new, unwanted identity as that of a sick person, and so on. These stressors can lead to depression, reduced self-esteem, etc.{{cite journal | vauthors = Cassileth BR, Lusk EJ, Strouse TB, Miller DS, Brown LL, Cross PA, Tenaglia AN | title = Psychosocial status in chronic illness. A comparative analysis of six diagnostic groups | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 311 | issue = 8 | pages = 506–11 | date = August 1984 | pmid = 6749208 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM198408233110805 }}

The use of medications can alter the microbiome and potentially impact overall health and the development of diseases. It has been discovered that the metabolites produced by intestinal microorganisms can influence one's health. For instance, antidepressants can modify the composition of the intestinal microbiota, which can then affect the course of the disease through changes in specific metabolites produced by certain intestinal microorganisms. This has significant implications, particularly in the context of depression, as it offers new insights into how to approach and treat the condition at hand.{{cite journal | vauthors = Torres-Carrillo N, Martínez-López E, Torres-Carrillo NM, López-Quintero A, Moreno-Ortiz JM, González-Mercado A, Gutiérrez-Hurtado IA | title = Pharmacomicrobiomics and Drug-Infection Interactions: The Impact of Commensal, Symbiotic and Pathogenic Microorganisms on a Host Response to Drug Therapy | journal = International Journal of Molecular Sciences | volume = 24 | issue = 23 | pages = 17100 | date = December 2023 | pmid = 38069427 | doi = 10.3390/ijms242317100 | doi-access = free | pmc = 10707377 }}

Health psychologists can support people living with long-term conditions to improve or maintain quality of life, self-manage their conditions, and adjust to life with an illness, disability or long-term condition.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Health psychology also concerns itself with bettering the lives of individuals with terminal illness. When there is little hope of recovery, health psychologist therapists can work within a multi-disciplinary palliative care team to improve the quality of life of the patient by helping the patient recover at least some of his or her psychological well-being.{{cite journal | vauthors = Lander DA, Graham-Pole JR | title = Love medicine for the dying and their caregivers: the body of evidence | journal = Journal of Health Psychology | volume = 13 | issue = 2 | pages = 201–12 | date = March 2008 | pmid = 18375626 | doi = 10.1177/1359105307086700 }}

A form of therapy shown in recent studies is psychotherapy. It is used as a mode of intervention due to the inconsistency and issues that may arise from pharmacological interventions. It ensures the use of evidence-based practices and helps in facilitating adherence to medication regimens that may be impacted by psychiatric symptoms, such as low motivation or depressive symptoms. When using psychotherapeutic strategies, clinicians can choose from three modes: individual, family/couples, and group psychotherapy.{{Cite journal | vauthors = Stillman MA, Manocchio AM, Glick ID |date=2023-09-15 |title=Combining pharmacotherapy with psychotherapeutic management for the treatment of psychiatric disorders among athletes |journal=Sports Psychiatry |doi=10.1024/2674-0052/a000056 |issn=2674-0052|doi-access=free }}

Critical health psychologists explore how health policy can influence inequities, inequalities and social injustice.{{cite journal | vauthors = Martire LM, Franks MM | title = The role of social networks in adult health: introduction to the special issue | journal = Health Psychology | volume = 33 | issue = 6 | pages = 501–504 | date = June 2014 | pmid = 24884903 | pmc = 8647624 | doi = 10.1037/hea0000103 }} These avenues of research expand the scope of health psychology beyond the level of individual health to an examination of the social and economic determinants of health both within and between regions and nations. The individualism of mainstream health psychology has been critiqued and deconstructed by critical health psychologists using qualitative methods that zero in on the health experience.{{cite book | vauthors = Marks DF, Murray ME, Estacio EV | date = 2011 | url = http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book233714?contribId=516262& | title = Health psychology. Theory-research-practice | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006160053/http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book233714?contribId=516262& | archive-date = 2011-10-06 | edition = 3rd | location = Thousand Oaks | publisher = Sage }}

Like psychologists in the other main psychology disciplines, health psychologists have advanced knowledge of research methods. Health psychologists apply this knowledge to conduct research on a variety of questions. For example, health psychologists carry out research to answer questions such as:

• What influences healthy eating?
• How is stress linked to heart disease?
• What are the emotional effects of genetic testing?
• How can we change people's health behavior to improve their health?

{{main|Health communication}}

Health psychologists can also be responsible for training other health professionals on how to deliver interventions to help promote healthy eating, stopping smoking, weight loss, etc. Health psychologists also train other health professionals in communication skills such as how to break bad news or support behavior change for the purpose of improving adherence to treatment.

Health psychologists aid the process of communication between physicians and patients during medical consultations. There are many problems in this process, with patients showing a considerable lack of understanding of many medical terms, particularly anatomical terms (e.g., intestines).{{cite journal | vauthors = Boyle CM | title = Difference between patients' and doctors' interpretation of some common medical terms | journal = British Medical Journal | volume = 2 | issue = 5704 | pages = 286–9 | date = May 1970 | pmid = 5420179 | pmc = 1700443 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.2.5704.286 }} One area of research on this topic involves "doctor-centered" or "patient-centered" consultations. Doctor-centered consultations are generally directive, with the patient answering questions and playing less of a role in decision-making. Although this style is preferred by elderly people and others, many people dislike the sense of hierarchy or ignorance that it inspires. They prefer patient-centered consultations, which focus on the patient's needs, involve the doctor listening to the patient completely before making a decision, and involving the patient in the process of choosing treatment and finding a diagnosis.{{cite journal | vauthors = Dowsett SM, Saul JL, Butow PN, Dunn SM, Boyer MJ, Findlow R, Dunsmore J | title = Communication styles in the cancer consultation: preferences for a patient-centred approach | journal = Psycho-oncology | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 147–56 | date = 2000 | pmid = 10767752 | doi = 10.1002/(sici)1099-1611(200003/04)9:2<147::aid-pon443>3.0.co;2-x }}

Health psychologists engage in research and practice aimed at getting people to follow medical advice and adhere to their treatment regimens. Patients often forget to take their pills or consciously opt not to take their prescribed medications because of side effects. Failing to take prescribed medication is costly and wastes millions of usable medicines that could otherwise help other people. Estimated adherence rates are difficult to measure (see below); there is, however, evidence that adherence could be improved by tailoring treatment programs to individuals' daily lives.{{cite journal | vauthors = Clark M, Hampson SE, Avery L, Simpson R | title = Effects of a tailored lifestyle self-management intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes | journal = British Journal of Health Psychology | volume = 9 | issue = Pt 3 | pages = 365–79 | date = September 2004 | pmid = 15296683 | doi = 10.1348/1359107041557066 }} Additionally, traditional cognitive-behavioural therapies have been adapted for people with chronic illnesses and comorbid psychological distress to include modules that encourage, support and reinforce adherence to medical advice as part of the larger treatment approach.{{cite journal | vauthors = Safren SA, Gonzalez JS, Wexler DJ, Psaros C, Delahanty LM, Blashill AJ, Margolina AI, Cagliero E | title = A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for adherence and depression (CBT-AD) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes | journal = Diabetes Care | volume = 37 | issue = 3 | pages = 625–33 | date = 2014 | pmid = 24170758 | pmc = 3931377 | doi = 10.2337/dc13-0816 }}

Health psychologists have identified a number of ways of measuring patients' adherence to medical regimens:

• Counting the number of pills in the medicine bottle
• Using self-reports
• Using "Trackcap" bottles, which track the number of times the bottle is opened.{{cite book | vauthors = Banyard P | date = 2002 | title = Psychology in practice: Health | location = London, England | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton Educational }}

Health psychology attempts to find treatments to reduce or eliminate pain, as well as understand pain anomalies such as episodic analgesia, causalgia, neuralgia, and phantom limb pain. Although the task of measuring and describing pain has been problematic, the development of the McGill Pain Questionnaire{{cite journal | vauthors = Melzack R | title = The McGill Pain Questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods | journal = Pain | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 277–299 | date = September 1975 | pmid = 1235985 | doi = 10.1016/0304-3959(75)90044-5 }} has helped make progress in this area. Treatments for pain involve patient-administered analgesia, acupuncture (found to be effective in reducing pain for osteoarthritis of the knee{{cite journal | vauthors = Berman BM, Singh BB, Lao L, Langenberg P, Li H, Hadhazy V, Bareta J, Hochberg M | title = A randomized trial of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee | journal = Rheumatology | volume = 38 | issue = 4 | pages = 346–54 | date = April 1999 | pmid = 10378713 | doi = 10.1093/rheumatology/38.4.346 }}), biofeedback, and cognitive behavior therapy.

Below are some examples of the types of positions held by health psychologists within applied settings such as the UK's NHS and private practice.

Healthcare professionals who treat individuals with mental health conditions prefer medications that provide energy and have fewer side effects. When prescribing psychiatric drugs, it is essential to consider individual needs, safety, and anti-doping policies. Psychologists patients prefer specific medications like escitalopram for anxiety, melatonin for insomnia, lamotrigine for bipolar disorders, and aripiprazole for psychotic disorders. This emphasizes the importance of personalized prescribing individuals.{{cite journal | vauthors = Torres-Carrillo N, Martínez-López E, Torres-Carrillo NM, López-Quintero A, Moreno-Ortiz JM, González-Mercado A, Gutiérrez-Hurtado IA | title = Pharmacomicrobiomics and Drug-Infection Interactions: The Impact of Commensal, Symbiotic and Pathogenic Microorganisms on a Host Response to Drug Therapy | journal = International Journal of Molecular Sciences | volume = 24 | issue = 23 | pages = 17100 | date = December 2023 | pmid = 38069427 | pmc = 10707377 | doi = 10.3390/ijms242317100 | doi-access = free }}

• Consultant health psychologist: A consultant health psychologist will take a lead for health psychology within public health, including managing tobacco control and smoking cessation services and providing professional leadership in the management of health trainers.{{cite web |url=https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225080213/http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/ |archive-date=2010-02-25 |title=Psychology Board of Australia Home Page}}
• Principal health psychologist: A principal health psychologist could, for example lead the health psychology service within one of the leading heart and lung hospitals, providing a clinical service to patients and advising all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Health psychologist: An example of a health psychologist's role would be to provide health psychology input to a center for weight management. Psychological assessment of treatment, development and delivery of a tailored weight management program, and advising on approaches to improve adherence to health advice and medical treatment.
• Research psychologist: Research health psychologists carry out health psychology research, for example, exploring the psychological impact of receiving a diagnosis of dementia, or evaluating ways of providing psychological support for people with burn injuries. Research can also be in the area of health promotion, for example investigating the determinants of healthy eating or physical activity or understanding why people misuse substances.
• Health psychologist in training/assistant health psychologist: As an assistant/in training, a health psychologist will gain experience assessing patients, delivering psychological interventions to change health behaviors, and conducting research, whilst being supervised by a qualified health psychologist.

Universities began to develop doctoral-level training programs in health psychology. In the US, post-doctoral level health psychology training programs were established for individuals who completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

The term "health psychologist" is a protected title, with health psychologists required to register with the Health Professions Council (HPC) and have trained to a level to be eligible for full membership of the Division of Health Psychology within the BPS.The British Psychological Society. (2011). Health Psychology in applied settings: A guide for employers. Registered health psychologists who are chartered with the BPS will have undertaken a minimum of six years of training, with three of those years dedicated to health psychology training. Following the completion of a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in Psychology, aspiring health psychologists must first complete a BPS-accredited masters in health psychology (Stage 1 training). Once the trainee has completed Stage 1 training, they can either choose to complete the BPS' independent Stage 2 training route or sign up to an accredited health psychology doctorate program at a UK university (DHealthPsy). Both training routes require trainees to demonstrate they meet the core competencies of:

• professional skills (including implementing ethical and legal standards, communication, and teamwork),
• research skills (including designing, conducting, and analyzing psychological research in numerous areas),
• consultancy skills (including planning and evaluation),
• teaching and training skills (including knowledge of designing, delivering, and evaluating large and small scale training program),
• intervention skills (including delivery and evaluation of behavior change interventions).

At present, there are limited opportunities for trainees to receive fully funded training. The NHS Education Scotland (NES) Stage 2 program funds several trainee health psychologists each year, providing trainees with fixed-term posts within NHS Boards across Scotland.{{Cite web |title=Applied psychology professional training programmes {{!}} NHS Ed |url=https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/our-work/applied-psychology-professional-training-programmes/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=www.nes.scot.nhs.uk}} In 2022, a pilot scheme was launched by Health Education England (HEE) to provide similar opportunities to aspiring health psychologists across England.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Once qualified, health psychologists can work in a range of settings, for example the NHS, universities, schools, private healthcare, and research and charitable organizations. A health psychologist in training might be working within applied settings while working towards registration and chartered status. All qualified health psychologists must also engage in and record their continuing professional development (CPD) for psychology each year throughout their career.

Health psychologists are registered by the Psychology Board of Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au|title=Psychology Board of Australia|website=Psychology Board of Australia|access-date=2019-06-08|archive-date=2010-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225080213/http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/|url-status=dead}} The standard pathway to becoming an endorsed health psychologists involves a minimum of six years training and a two-year registrar program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Endorsement/Registrar-program.aspx|title=Registrar Program|website=Registrar Program}} Health psychologists must also undertake continuing professional development (CPD) each year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/FAQ/CPD-resources.aspx|title=Continuing professional development resources|website=Continuing professional development resources}}

Health psychologists are registered by the New Zealand Psychologists Board within the psychologist scope of practice.{{Cite web|url=https://psychologistsboard.org.nz|title=New Zealand Psychologists Board|website=New Zealand Psychologists Board}} The training pathway to becoming a registered health psychologist requires a Masters in Health Psychology and a two-year registration Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland.{{Cite web|url=https://psychologistsboard.org.nz/for-education-providers-and-students/accredited-training-programmes/|title=Accredited Training Programmes|website=New Zealand Psychologists Board}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/find-a-study-option/postgraduate-diploma-in-health-psychology-pgdiphealthpsych.html|title=Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology|website=The University of Auckland}}

Outside of clinical work in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare settings, graduates may choose careers in research and health promotion in universities and private settings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.careers.govt.nz/qualifications/view/AU5527/7001|title=Master of Health Psychology|website=Careers.govt.nz}} Health psychologists are able to join the Institute of Health Psychology (IHP), an institute of the New Zealand Psychological Society, as a practitioner, academic or student affiliate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychology.org.nz/members/networking/institutes/institute-health-psychology-ihp|title=Institute of Health Psychology (IHP)|website=New Zealand Psychological Society}}

{{Portal||Psychology}}

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• Applied psychology
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• Bodymind
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• Cognitive epidemiology
• European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology
• Healing environments
• Impact of health on intelligence
• Nutrition psychology
• Occupational health psychology
• Occupational safety and health
• Outline of psychology
• Pediatric psychology
• Perseverative cognition
• Self-concealment
• Society for Occupational Health Psychology
• Workplace stress
• Pain Psychology

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• {{cite web | url = http://health-psych.org/ | title = American Psychological Association, Division 38: Health Psychology | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}
• {{cite web | url = http://www.apa.org/about/division/div38.html | title = Division 38: Health Psychology | work = APA.org. | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}
• {{cite web | url = https://archive.today/20121210125314/http://sohp.psy.uconn.edu/ | title = Society for Occupational Health Psychology | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}
• {{cite web | url = http://www.sbm.org/ | title = Society of Behavioral Medicine | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}

• {{cite web | url = http://www.ehps.net/ | title = European Health Psychology Society | access-date = 25 July 2017 }}
• {{cite web | url = http://dhp.bps.org.uk/ | title = Division of Health Psychology | work = British Psychological Society | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}
• {{cite web | url = http://www.eaohp.org/ | title = European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology | access-date = 29 July 2014 }}

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Category:Applied psychology

Category:Behavioural sciences

Category:Determinants of health