Feature
Building on her presidential initiative of psychology's role in health, APA's 2001 President Norine G. Johnson, PhD, will discuss "Psychology and health: research, practice and policy" at her presidential address and afternoon tea, 3 p.m., Aug. 22, during APA's 2002 Annual Convention in Chicago.
Johnson's talk will present information about psychology's involvement in all aspects of health--wellness, prevention, chronic and acute illness, medical compliance, and death and dying. She will emphasize that the line between health and mental health needs to be removed.
"Every aspect of health has a major component that's psychological," Johnson says. "Everywhere you look you can see the interaction between mind and body and the importance of psychological research."
She believes the dichotomy between health and psychology is "not serving our country well--it's not serving the well or the sick."
Johnson will also present research and discuss policies affecting health and psychology. For instance, she will highlight research on cardiovascular patients, including a study that shows individuals who are depressed are more likely to get or have a reoccurrence of heart disease.
The former APA president will also discuss a new federal policy, which began in January, that implemented Current Procedural Terminology codes that provide psychologists with a more accurate way to bill patients with physical health diagnoses. No mental health diagnosis is needed to deliver services to these patients, as had been required in the past.
Her presidential address, including PowerPoint presentations in English and Spanish, will be at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Ballroom A.
--M. DITTMANN
