Definition

Health Psychology

The study of psychological process in health, illness and health care

Alemeda Health Practices

7 or 8 hours sleep

eating breakfast

never smoker

no snacking

near correct weight

moderate or no use of alcohol

regular physical activity

Recruit Discharge 2Mnth 6Mnth 1 Year

Time

0

2

4

6

8

10M

ean

Dep

ress

ion

(H

AD

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Cardiac Counseling (Marie Johnston et al, 1999)Patients

Control

Inpatient

Extended

Recruit Discharge 2Mnth 6Mnth 1 Year

Time

0

2

4

6

8

10M

ean

Dep

ress

ion

(H

AD

S)

Cardiac Counseling (Marie Johnston et al, 1999)Partners

Control

Inpatient

Extended

Recruit Discharge 2Mnth 6Mnth 1 Year

Time

0

2

4

6

8

10

Mea

n D

epre

ssio

n (

HA

DS

)

Cardiac Counseling (Marie Johnston et al, 1999)Patients

Control

Inpatient

Extended

Recruit Discharge 2Mnth 6Mnth 1 Year

Time

0

2

4

6

8

10

Mean

Dep

ress

ion

(H

AD

S)

Cardiac Counseling (Marie Johnston et al, 1999)Partners

Control

Inpatient

Extended

Basic Reading

This course is not organised around a textbook. I shall refer primarily to material in journals. Also consult basic health psychology texts such as

EP Sarafino 2002 Health Psychology: biopsychosocial interactions (4th Edition)

S Taylor (2003) Health Psychology (5th Edition)

The is also an excellent by old book on the topic

A Steptoe (1981) Psychological factors in cardiovascular disorders.

Steptoe has also written a very good chapter on “Psychophysiological bases of disease” in Johnston & Johnston, Health Psychology, volume 8 of Bellack & Hersen Comprehensive Clinical Psychology

Cardiovascular measures

Heart Rate (HR): Number of cardiac cycles per minute

Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP): Maximum blood pressure in a cardiac cycle

Diasystolic Blood Pressure (DBP): Minimum blood pressure in a cardiac cycle

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP): Average blood pressure over a cardiac cycle

Cardiovascular measures (cont.)

Stroke Volume (SV): Amount of blood pumped in a cardiac cycle

Cardiac Output (CO): Amount of blood pumped in unit of time

CO = SV x HR

Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR): The total resistance in circulatory system to the flow of blood.

MAP= CO x TPR

Autonomic Nervous System- seriously simplified

Sympathetic Nervous System - quite diffuse

Neurotransmitter Noradrenaline

Receptors Adrenoreceptors

Beta - Heart - Increase HR & Contractility

Alpha - Smooth Muscle (e.g, vasculature) -

contract small blood vessels

Parasympathetic Nervous System- quite specific

Neurotransmitter acetylcholine

Receptors cholinergic

Heart- slows heart rate, minor effect on Contractility

Effects of Cortisol

Neuron Enhanced catecholamine synthesis

Hippocampus Enhanced memory function

Thalamus Increased sensitivity to incoming stimuli

Adrenoreceptors Enhanced receptor sensitivity

Adrenulla Medulla Enhanced catecholamine synthesis

Immune system Enhanced & inhibited

Glucose Enhanced production

Fatty acid Enhanced liberation

Kidney Water diuresis & sodium retention