Health Psychology

Health Psychology Basics - Mind Matters Medically

• Definition: Study of psychological & behavioral processes in health, illness, & healthcare.
• Core Model: Biopsychosocial model - interplay of biological, psychological, & social factors in health.
  • Replaced purely biomedical model.
• Key Areas:
  • Stress & coping mechanisms
  • Health behavior change (e.g., smoking cessation, diet)
  • Doctor-patient communication
  • Pain management
  • Chronic illness adaptation

⭐ The Health Belief Model is a widely used framework to understand health behaviors, focusing on perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers.

• Goal: Promote health, prevent illness, improve healthcare systems & policy.

Stress & Coping - Pressure Cooker Physiology

• Stress: Non-specific response to any demand (Selye). Types: Eustress (adaptive), Distress (harmful). Acute vs. Chronic.
• Physiological "Pressure Cooker":
  • Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Rapid. Adrenaline/Noradrenaline release. "Fight-or-Flight". ↑HR, ↑BP.
  • Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis: Slower, sustained. CRH → ACTH → Cortisol. ↑Glucose, immune suppression (chronic).
• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

• Coping Strategies:
  • Problem-focused: Alter stressor (e.g., planning).
  • Emotion-focused: Regulate emotional response (e.g., meditation, denial).
  • 📌 Lazarus & Folkman: Transactional Model of Stress & Coping.

⭐ Allostatic Load: "Wear and tear" on the body from chronic stress, leading to ↑ risk of HTN, DM.

Behavior Change Models - Nudging New Habits

Behavior change models frame understanding/modifying health behaviors. Nudging uses subtle cues for healthier choices.

• Health Belief Model (HBM): Key constructs: perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy.
• Transtheoretical Model (TTM): Stages: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance. (📌 PCPAM)

• Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB): Attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control → intention → behavior.
• Social Cognitive Theory (SCT): Reciprocal determinism (behavior, personal factors, environment); self-efficacy.
• Nudge Theory: Choice architecture influences decisions (e.g., default options).

⭐ The Transtheoretical Model's stages (Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance) are crucial for tailoring interventions.

Patient Communication & Care - Healing Conversations

• Effective Communication: Builds trust, improves adherence, ↑ patient satisfaction.
  • Skills: Active listening, empathy (verbal & non-verbal cues), clear language, shared decision-making.
  • Models: Paternalistic, Informative, Interpretive, Deliberative.
• Breaking Bad News (BBN):
  • 📌 SPIKES Protocol:

• Psychological Aspects of Illness:
  • Address: Anxiety, depression, denial.
  • Support: Coping mechanisms (problem-focused, emotion-focused), social support.
• Pain Management:
  • Biopsychosocial model.
  • Non-pharmacological: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), relaxation techniques.

⭐ The Calgary-Cambridge Guide is a widely used framework for structuring medical interviews and teaching communication skills.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

• The Biopsychosocial model integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness.
• Health Belief Model (HBM): Key constructs include perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers.
• Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change): Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance are crucial for interventions.
• Stress and coping: Understand types of stressors and adaptive vs. maladaptive coping mechanisms.
• Doctor-patient communication: Empathy and clear communication enhance adherence and satisfaction.
• Adherence to treatment: Multifactorial, impacting treatment efficacy significantly.
• Pain perception: Influenced by psychological factors; Gate Control Theory is a key model.