Health psychology

Health PsychologyRevathi Mohan

Final Year Masters in Counselling Psychology

HealthAccording to WHO “ Health is a state of

complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

Health PsychologyIt is a special area that focus on how biology,

psychology, behaviour and social factors influence heal and illness.

Health PsychologyClinical CommunityOccupationalPublic Health Psychology

Health PsychologyWhat make s sick

Why different people respond

differently

How responses and coping styles affect the course of illness

Why and how people develop certain health

habits

What factors determine specific

intervention

Field of Health PsychologyMindIllness- Cognitive and emotional phenomenaEg : Schizophrenia

Role of health psychologistUnderstanding the higher level of illnessProfessional helpAdapting to illnessPreventive measuresInteraction

Role of health psychologistExamine Previous behaviour•Physically•Socially•Active

Look into •Personal Preferences•Personality

characteristics

To Provide•Positive Reinforcement•Reward

RoHPNot only to free of disease but also to

maintain a state of mental and psychological health and ability to live their life meaningful

Early Research LiteratureChoosing and changing doctorsNot only medicine

•Only few journals

1’st •Rese

arch was not programmatic

2’nd

•Fully clinical based

3’rd

Contd•Tim

e Bound

•Failed to examine general principles

4’th

•Work was unsophisicated

5’th

•Flourshing

Currently

Individual Perspective

Action

Cognition

Emotion

Motivation

The Mind and Body ConnectionAncient PeriodMiddle AgeRecent Days

Ancient PeriodAnimismGravityHumors

Animism

Good

Bad

Spirits

GravityIn-animate object Spirits

Humoral ThoryPhlegm ApathyBlood CheerfulnessYellowbile AngerBlackbile Depression

Middle AgeReligious LeadersDual Role

1600- Rene DescartesMind and body were separateInteract with fluid

contdPasteurs Discovery- Germ ThorySigmund Freud- Conversion Hysteria Mental Problem – Physical Problem

Recent DaysMind and body are interconnected- Monistic

Psychological Factors in illness and diseaseDifference between Illness and disease

Illness and

Disease

Physical – PsychologocalEg: Cancer Depression

Psychological – Physical Health

BehavioursEg : ALcohol

Psychological – PhysicalPhobia

Eg : Seeing the World as threat

Psychological – PhysicalInterlink

Eg :Heart attactPsych affect