“You, the individual, can do more for

your own health and well-being than

any doctor, any hospital, and drug,

any exotic medical service”

US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Health Psychology

University of Toronto

Winter, 2005

Dr. Duane Hargreaves

Email: dhargrea@utm.utoronto.ca

Phone: (905) 828-3957Web: www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3psy333/winter2005.htm

Lecture 1 - Outline

• Part 1– Welcome and Introduction

– Topic Overview - Aims and Objectives

– Assessment

• Part 2– What is Health Psychology?

• Part 3– Scientist-Practitioner Model

Lecture 1 - Part 1

Welcome and Introduction

Course Handbook

Course Instructors

Learning Outcomes

Course Outline (readings)

General information (expectations, contact, assessment, text)

Lecture Outlines

Lecture 1 - Part 2

What is Health Psychology?

Question

What is most important in our lives?

Freedom ResponsibleEnjoying life Social JusticeHonesty PleasureReciprocation of favors EqualitySocial power Self-respectBroadminded A varied lifeSuccessful WealthTrue friendship A spiritual lifeHealthy Respect for traditionAccepting my portion in life Family securitySelf indulgent CuriosityProtecting the environment WisdomSocial order Loyal

Question

What is most important in our lives?

Sample of 162 women and men• Most important …• 2nd most important …• 3rd most important …• 4th most important …• Etc …

What is Health?

Health is popularly defined in terms of absence of disease, but may be viewed as an illness/wellness continuum

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

Illness/Wellness Continuum

1900 1990

Changing patterns of illness

Summary

• 1900s - infectious diseases main cause of death (acute conditions)

• 1960s - degenerative diseases main cause of death (chronic conditions)

• 1990s - new infectious disease main cause of premature death (chronic condition)

Death rates from infectious and parasitic disease, 1907 to 1998

Acute vs. Chronic Disorders

Summary

• acute conditions = short-lived, curable – Etiology - Beyond individual control

• chronic conditions = long-lasting, no cure– Etiology - Partly influenced by behavior

Reasons for changed causes of death

• Improved hygiene (water supply, etc)

• Penicillin (antibiotics)

• Aging population (risk factor for degenerative disease)

• Health Behaviors– Activities to prevent or detect disease

Change 5 behaviors

According to the US Public Health Service, of the 10 leading causes of death in the US, at least 7 could be reduced substantially if people at risk would change just 5 behaviors!

1. Adherence to medical recommendations (eg use of hypertensive medication)

2. Diet

3. Smoking

4. Lack of exercise

5. Alcohol and drug use

Estimated contributions of behavior, medical care, genetics, and other factors to health status.

Behavior 40%

Models of Health

• Biomedical Model

– Historically, dominant paradigm

– Suggests illness is a function of aberrant somatic processes

– Main Focus = cure (biology and medicine)

Models of Health

• Biopsychosocial Model

– Current dominant paradigm

– All conditions of health and disease have mental and social components

– Main focus = health (prevention not cure)

Models of Health

• Biopsychosocial Model

“health (wellness and illness) is a function of biological, psychological, and social factors in continual interaction”

A “factors” approach

A “systems” approach

The Biopsychosocial Model from Factors and Systems Perspectives

Health Psychology

• What is health psychology?

“the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to …– Promotion and maintenance of health (health habits)– Prevention and treatment of illness (clinical)– Identification of etiological and diagnostic correlates of

health and illness (research)– Analysis of the health care system and health policy

formation (political)

(Matazarro, 1982)

Health Psychology

… vs. other health-related disciplines

• Medical psychology

• Psychosomatic medicine

• Behavioral medicine

• Behavioral health

• Medical sociology

Publications in Health Psyc.

Lecture 1 - Part 3

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Scientist-Practitioner Model

The essence of the S-P model is that students in clinical psychology should be trained in research as well as clinical skills.

Implications of the S-P model for clinical practice are a little less clear!

S-P model in practice

3 different emphases:

• Practitioner uses research and basic principles to guide treatment and assessment or to develop new approaches (evidenced-based)

• Practitioner evaluates outcome (formal assessment of outcome)

• Practitioner engages in research

Practitioners engage in 1, 2, or all 3 emphases

Importance of Psych. Theory

• Basis for effective techniques lies in the theoretical substrate of the discipline of psychology

• Development of new therapies/interventions depends upon this theoretical basis

• Application to complex or new problems requires a theoretical basis – Eg Walby (1970) … systematic desensitization for phobias

previously thought untreatable.

• Causal processes and mechanisms of change

Importance of Empiricism

• Evaluation of the efficacy of treatments

• Empirical justification for claims

• Delineation of limits of claims (rarely unequivocal)– Success rates, breadth of response, long-term outcome

• Study of predictors of outcome

• Best practice protocols

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Hierarchical Knowledge Stores

• Empirically established relationships

• Scientific theories

• Clinical lore (shared beliefs and practices)

• Professional experience

• Personal experience

(James, 1991)

… acknowledges that we don’t know everything!

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Brief History…

• University clinics (foundation for US model of training)– 1896 Pennsylvania Clinic– 1908 Colorado– 1909 Minnesota– 1914 (26 University clinics in USA)

• Boulder Conference (1949)– Research and clinical practice as joint training goal

• B F Skinner (1953) … Science and Human Behavior• Hans Eysenck (1959) … Learning Theory and Behavior Therapy

• 1960s and 70s … treatment outcome evaluations

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Brief History…

• 1980s and 1990s– Large scale studies and follow-ups– Extensions to new areas– Refinement of techniques (eg anxiety disorders)– Relapse prevention (eg addictions)– Growth of behavioral medicine and health psychology– Use of the term “cognitive-behavior therapy”– Cost-effectiveness– Manual-based treatments derived from research

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Manual-Based Treatments

• Development of manuals as a “revolution”• Evidence-based medicine• Advantages

– Consistency of application (replicability)– Quality assurance for customers– Ease of training– Division 12 (APA task force)

• Criticisms– Appropriate renewal

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Scientific Achievements

• Most effective treatment for anxiety• Very effective treatment for depression• Sexual problems• Eating disorders, addictions• Health psychology

– Pain– Diabetes– Cardiovascular disorders– Tinnitus

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Professional Achievements

• Role of psychologist strengthened as providers of effective

interventions

• Empirical justification for psychological therapy -

potential cost effectiveness

• More effective therapy for clients for a wide range of

problems - extension to health

• Link between pure and applied psychology

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Implications for Health Psychology

• Adherence to the S-P model

• Active involvement of psychologists is transfer of psychological

knowledge to other health care professionals

– Nurses, doctors, pharmacists, OTs, speech therapists, physiotherapists, etc

– Psychologizing of health care

• “The promulgation of the scientific ethos in general, and the S-P

model in particular, among all the health professions.” (James, 1991)

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Invalid Criticisms

• Few clinicians engage in research

• Treatment-outcome literature is not useful

• What does the clinician do when a client fails to respond

• Clinicians need to be pragmatic, flexible, eclectic

• “human problems cannot be solved by science - therapy is

an art, not a science”

– Limited view of science