Clinical Psychology - Health Psychology Overview

Health psychology is a subspecialty of clinical psychology that studies how psychological processes influence health and illness.
Emerged due to a shift in prevalent diseases from infectious diseases (like pneumonia) to chronic diseases (such as heart disease and cancer) that have behavioral components.

Behavioral Medicine: Focuses on the impact of behavior on wellness, integrating knowledge from social sciences and medicine.
Health Psychology: A subdiscipline of behavioral medicine emphasizing the influence of psychological processes on health and illness.

Defined as the psychological/physiological response to demanding situations.
Fight-or-Flight Response: Proposed by Walter Cannon; mobilizes energy reserves for immediate responses to threats, adapting to modern forms such as aggressive driving or substance use.
Tend-and-Befriend: A response often seen in women, emphasizing social connections for stress relief.
Chronic Stress: Prolonged levels of stress leading to negative health impacts.
- May stem from a fast-paced lifestyle.

Developed by Hans Selye; describes how repeated exposure to stress can lead to vulnerability and illness as the body fails to adapt.

Chronic stress can lead to:
- Increased thyroid hormones, insomnia, weight loss.
- Depleted endorphins causing bodily pain.
- Reduced sex hormones leading to amenorrhea or infertility.
- Digestive shutdown causing nausea or bloating.
- Excess cholesterol linked to hypertension, stroke, aneurism.
Weakened immune response due to:
- Activation of HPA axis increasing cortisol, which deteriorates T-cells crucial for immunity.
- Increased likelihood of illnesses, exemplified by higher susceptibility to colds in stressed individuals.

Study of interactions between behavior, the nervous system, and the immune system.

Stress doesn’t cause diseases like cancer and AIDS but influences their development. Stress-prone individuals may be more susceptible to certain cancers.

Coping: Process of managing perceived demands exceeding resources.
Influenced by both nature (genetic predispositions) and nurture (perception of stress).

Problem-Focused Coping: Taking active steps to reduce stress (e.g., preparing for natural disasters).
Emotion-Focused Coping: Changing emotional response rather than stressor itself (e.g., coping with a family member's injury).

Defined as perceived relationships providing support during crises or sharing good fortune.
Important for health, as lack of social support can lead to immune breakdown.
Composed of:
- Social Network: Broad range of contacts.
- Social Relationships: Meaningful interactions.
- Social Support: Quality and quantity of assistance.
Benefits include viewing stressors in a manageable light and the healthful effects of physical touch (e.g., premature babies thriving with massage).

Weight Management: ABCDS method (Activity, Behavior, Cognition, Diet, Support).
Smoking Cessation: STAR method (Set a date, Tell others, Anticipate challenges, Remove cues).
Alcohol Use: Pathological use definitions (e.g., tolerance, withdrawal).
Pain Management: Integrating psychological factors into medical treatments; biofeedback encourages body awareness.
Medical Regimen Compliance: Assisting clients with adherence to medical advice; common barriers include communication and fear of side effects.
Coping with Medical Procedures: Helping clients prepare for and manage the stress of medical interventions.

Historical disparities in health quality among ethnic groups in the U.S.
Cultural differences influence understanding and interpretation of health problems.
Sources of perceived illness vary:
1. The Patient: Biomedical factors.
2. Nature: Environmental toxins.
3. Social World: Interpersonal conflicts.
4. Supernatural World: Beliefs in magic or spirits.