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Archival Description of Clinical Health PsychologyThe specialty of Clinical Health Psychology applies scientific knowledge of the interrelationships among behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social and biological components in health and disease to the promotion and maintenance of health; the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of illness and disability; and the improvement of the health care system. The distinct focus of Clinical Health Psychology is on physical health problems. The specialty is dedicated to the development of knowledge regarding the interface between behavior and health, and to the delivery of high quality services based on that knowledge to individuals, families, and health care systems. Advanced Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge Germane to the Specialty Clinical Health Psychology has evolved as a specialty area of knowledge and practice with extensive intradiscipline as well as interdisciplinary foundations in the health sciences. Biological, cognitive, affective, social and psychological bases of health and disease are bodies of knowledge that, when integrated with knowledge of biological cognitive-affective, social and psychological bases of behavior, constitute the distinctive knowledge base of Clinical Health Psychology. This includes broad understanding of biology, pharmacology, anatomy, human physiology and pathophysiology, and psychoneuroimmunology. Clinical Health psychologists also have knowledge of how learning, memory, perception, cognition, and motivation influence health behaviors, are affected by physical illness/injury/disability, and can affect response to illness/injury/disability. Knowledge of the impact of social support, culture, physician-patient relationships, health policy and the organization of health care delivery systems on health and help-seeking is also fundamental, as is knowledge of diversity and minority health issues, individual differences in coping, emotional and behavioral risk factors for disease/injury/disability, human development issues in health and illness, and the impact of psychopathology on disease, injury, disability and treatment. The specialty also includes special expertise in health research methods and awareness of the distinctive ethical and legal issues associated with practice in Clinical Health Psychology. Education and training for Clinical Health Psychology has been addressed in the 1983 Working Conference on Education and Training in Clinical Health Psychology (Stone, G.W., 1983, Health Psychology, Suppl. 5.). Practitioners can be board certified in Clinical Health Psychology by the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology, an affiliated board of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Parameters To Define Professional Practice in Clinical Health Psychology Fundamental to Clinical Health Psychology is the biopsychosocial model and the ability to work in a broad range of health care settings with other health care providers. Populations: The client populations served by health psychologists are defined by physical symptoms or physical illness experienced by persons across the life span. Populations include (but are not limited to) persons with asthma, pain, organ failure, physical disability, irritable bowel syndrome, headache, hemophilia, Raynaud's disease, diabetes, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, infertility, arthritis, terminal illness, cardiovascular disease, cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sickle cell disease, injury, obesity, dental disease, osteoporosis, stroke, hypertension, as well as those individuals at risk for these problems and those who desire to develop/maintain a healthy lifestyle. Patients' family members and health care providers are also recipients of clinical health psychology services. Problems: Problems addressed by the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology include, but are not limited to: (1) psychological conditions secondary to diseases/injury/disability (e.g., post myocardial infaction depression, family issues in chronic illness or death, body image concerns secondary to burns, amputation, surgery) (2) somatic presentations of psychological dysfunction (e.g., chest pain in panic attack, somatization disorders) (3) psychophysiological disorders (e.g., tension and migraine headache, irritable bowel syndrome) (4) physical symptoms/conditions responsive to behavioral interventions (e.g., vasospasms, urinary and fecal incontinence, anticipatory nausea) (5) somatic complications associated with behavioral factors (e.g., mismanagement of diabetes, noncompliance with medical regimens) (6) psychological presentation of organic disease (e.g., hypothyroidism presenting as depression, steriod induced psychosis) (7) psychological and behavioral aspects of stressful medical procedures (e.g., pain, lumbar puncture, wound debridement, cardiac catheterization) (8) behavioral risk actors for disease/injury/disability (e.g., smoking weight, substance abuse, risk-taking) (9) problems of health care providers and health care systems (e.g., physican-patient relationships, staff burn out, care delivery systems) (10) preferences for learning the development and maintenance of healthy lifestyles Procedures: Practitioners have in-depth expertise in clinical health psychology assessment, intervention and consultation as well as skills in interdisciplinary collaboration with other health care providers. A broad array of specialized procedures exist (e.g., Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness scale, Type A Structured Interview, Family Environment Scale, Millon Behavioral Health Inventory, Sickness Impact Profile, quality of life measures, the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, psychophysiological monitoring, biofeedback, relaxation training, crisis intervention at the time of diagnosis/change in health status, cognitive behavioral therapies for pain, headache, improving compliance and preparing for stressful medical procedures, coping skills training to promote adaptive coping, family therapy, group therapy, staff consultation and liaison, counseling for health promotion). Practioners also have skills in working in a broad array of health care settings with other health care disciplines. Contact Us
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