Medical Psychology Exam 1

Medical Psychology

A specialty of psychologists with prescribing privileges in select U.S. states.

Health Psychology

An applied and basic research field focused on the intersections between psychological/behavioral processes and health and illness.

Behavioral Medicine

An interdisciplinary field that integrates biomedical and behavioral knowledge relevant to physical health and disease.

World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Biopsychosocial Model

A comprehensive model that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness.

Health Promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health.

Health Belief Model

A model that explains health behavior based on perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action.

Transtheoretical Model (TTM)

A model that describes stages of change in health behavior: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance.

Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches

Strategies that aim to change thought patterns and behaviors to support health behavior change.

Life’s Essential 8

Eight key measures recommended by the AHA for improving cardiovascular health.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)

A cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Health-Compromising Behaviors

Behaviors that negatively affect health, such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.

Internalized Weight Bias

Negative attitudes and judgments directed at individuals based on their weight.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

A client-centered counseling style to elicit behavior change by helping clients explore their ambivalence.

Primary Prevention

Health-promoting actions taken to prevent a disease or injury from occurring.

Secondary Prevention

Actions taken to identify and treat an illness early in its course.

Tertiary Prevention

Actions taken to contain or slow damage once a disease has progressed beyond its early stages.

Subjective Well-being

A person's self-assessed happiness and satisfaction with life.

Behavioral Health Assessment

An evaluation to screen for anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders.

Chronic Illness

Long-term health conditions that may require ongoing medical attention and affect daily living.

Health Psychology

A field that studies how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness.

Clinical Health Psychologist

A psychologist trained in clinical psychology with expertise in managing chronic health conditions.