The role of the clinical psychologist has traditionally been confined to psychiatry, but with the development in medicine of the importance of treating the 'whole man' it has been realized that we have neglected the psychological aspect of medical care. This book, the first in a series of volumes on the subject of medical psychology, provides 10 important contributions on how psychologists can provide a service and implement research in areas of medicine where the 'human aspect' has been eroded by technological advances

A comprehensive overview of the research, theory, application and current practices in the field of psychology for medicine and healthcare, covering topics from epigenetics to social determinants of health and transdiagnostic approaches to mental health and everything in between.

This book begins by introducing us to patients in two general-practice waiting rooms. In an Australian general practice seven patients are waiting to see doctors. In a New Zealand general-practice waiting room are two patients. The healthcare needs of each patient are outlined. Of these patients and their circumstances, the editors and specialist chapter-authors ask a series of questions. What is life like for each? How might social role, economic status, and quality of social support impact on their lived experience of illness and injury? To what extent might psychosocial variables impact on the biomedical outcome of each? How might biomedical problems impact on psychosocial variables? What might be the emotional experience of each, their perception of stress, likely resilience, and potential for achieving quality of life despite their current medical circumstances? What factors might change their emotional experience? What will influence their psychological coping? What might be the cultural and spiritual resources or needs of each? How might health practitioners and the health system more generally respond to their biopsychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs? To what extent, and how, could presenting problems have been prevented? How can positive attitudes to health and living be promoted? To encourage health professionals to view a patient in his or her broad context, as a person, and as a person in a family, a cultural group, and in a society, with advantages to patient and clinician, Jennifer Fitzgerald and Gerard J Byrne have brought together experts in medicine, psychology, social work, pastoral theology, and social science. Following a section in which the conceptual foundations of a biopsychosocial approach to healthcare are outlined, chapters on individual differences and developmental processes, relationships, the social determinants of health, existential and ethical issues, and prevention and promotion are offered. In each chapter, to illustrate and personalise key points, authors refer to the patients in the waiting rooms.

This unique reference offers an integrated "behavioural science" approach to psychology and sociology as they relate to medicine. The 2nd Edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect all of today's trends, as well as suggestions from student readers. Each single topic is presented on double-page spread with a short case study followed by the appropriate clinical examination, diagnostic procedure, treatment, and prognosis. A wealth of illustrations, photographs, algorithms, radiological images, and summary boxes make the content exceptionally easy to grasp.

For two decades, I have been responding to questions about the nature of health psychology and how it differs from medical psychology, behavioral medicine, and clinical psychology. From the beginning, I have taken the position that any applica tion of psychological theory or practice to problems and issues of the health system is health psychology. I have repeatedly used an analogy to Newell and Simon's "General Problem Solver" program of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which had two major functional parts, in addition to the "executive" component. One was the "problem-solving core" (the procedural competence); the other was the representa tion of the "problem environment. " In the analogy, the concepts, knowledge, and techniques of psychology constitute the core competence; the health system in all its complexity is the problem environment. A health psychologist is one whose basic competence in psychology is augmented by a working knowledge of some aspect of the health system. Quite apparently, there are functionally distinct aspects of health psychology to the degree that there are meaningful subdivisions in psychological competence and significantly different microenvironments within the health system. I hesitate to refer to them as areas of specialization, as the man who gave health psychology its formal definition, Joseph Matarazzo, has said that there are no specialties in psychology (cited in the editors' preface to this book).

"As the fundamental importance of psychological aspects of medical practice becomes ever more evident, and a correspondingly greater knowledge of psychology is required of medical graduates, books like this one must become essential reading for all medical students." - Michael Sharpe MD, FRCP FRCPsych, Professor of Psychological Medicine, University of Edinburgh "It′s a great textbook, the application to Medicine is nicely outlined and the case studies illustrating the points further are brilliant. It′s easy to read and follow and really highlights the importance of Psychology in Medicine. I will definitely be recommending this text to my students!" - Dr Harbinder Sandhu, Health Psychology Institute of Clinical Education, University of Warwick This first-of-its-kind, comprehensive textbook covers all the psychology an undergraduate medical student needs to know. The authors show the importance of applied psychological theory and evidence to medicine, and offer enough depth on the subject to span an entire degree. Split into four sections, the book is a unique mix of psychological theory and evidence with implications for clinical practice, clinical tips and case studies. Psychology and Health: covers core topics such as stress, symptom perception, health behaviour and chronic illness. Basic Foundations of Psychology: explores areas of biological, developmental, cognitive and social psychology relevant to medicine. Body Systems: psychological research specific to body systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, immunology and reproduction. Health-Care Practice covers clinical skills and practice, including chapters on evidence-based medicine, communication skills and psychological intervention. With a full colour text design, each chapter follows the same accessible format which includes summaries, learning objectives, case studies, research examples, applications to clinical practice, further reading and short answer questions. They include the latest psychological theory and research evidence.

Providing a state-of-the-science overview of theory, research, and practice at the interface of psychology and health, this comprehensive volume explores how health and health behaviors are shaped by a wide range of psychological processes and social-environmental factors.