'A fantastic contribution to health psychology. My PhD students and medical students are instructed to read it (not often I recommend books these days). It feels like the field has been waiting for this for a long time' - Dr Lis Cordingley Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Manchester
An engaging introduction to the interrelationships between mind and body across a broad range of topics including infectious illness, autoimmunity, cancer and pain. Taking a biopsychosocial approach, it brings together research from a number of disciplines including health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology and behavioural genetics.
Students are encouraged to consider how advances in psychobiological research can help us to uncover the true complexity of links between psychological, biological and social processes with respect to implications for health and how such advances can inform the development of interventions and treatment.
The Mind-Body Connection
Changing Conceptualisations of Mind and Body
Emerging Disciplines
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
The Link between Stress and Illness
The History of the Stress Concept
Cognitive Models
Biological Models
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Positive Processes in Health and Illness
From Stress to Emotion
Emotion, Coping and Health
Well-Being
Summary and Conclusions
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
A Healthy Disposition
Introduction
How Do Genes Influence Health?
Genetic Advances and Identifying Disease Genes
Predictive Genetic Testing
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Pain
What Is Pain?
Theories of Pain
Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Pain
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
At-Risk Populations
Introduction
Socio-Economic Status and Health
People with Psychiatric Illness
Older People
Long-Term Caregivers
Summary and Conclusions
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Psychobiological Interventions
Introduction
Coping-Based Approaches
Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Methodological Issues in Psychobiological Research
Introduction
How Can We Determine Whether or not Psychological Factors Influence Health?
Designing and Evaluating Health Interventions
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Summary and Future Directions
What Have We Learned so Far?
What Questions Have We Yet to Adequately Address?
Technological Advances
Summary and Conclusions
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
Glossary
References
Index
