PSY 6450 Health Psychology

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the related fields of health psychology and behavioral medicine. Various theoretical perspectives are used to develop an understanding regarding the ways in which biological, psychological, and social factors interact with and affect: 1) people’s efforts to achieve good health and prevent illness, 2) factors underlying health habits and lifestyles, 3) stress and coping and their role in illness, 4) factors related to seeking and receiving treatment for medical problems, 5) pain and its treatment, and 6) the recovery, rehabilitation, and psychosocial adjustment of people with serious health problems and chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. This course also addresses the role of research in clinical psychological interventions and the various ways in which these interventions can both improve health behaviors and patients’ quality of life. admission to the graduate program in Clinical Health Psychology
Credits: 3.0