Medical psychology

Medical psychology (also known as Clinical Health Psychology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Health Care Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, or Health Psychology) revolves around the idea that both the body and mind are one, indivisible structure. Continuing with this line of thought, all diseases whether of the mind or of the physical body must be treated as if they have both been effected.

This belief that the corporeal and the physical bodies are one is by no means new. Socrates introduced the Greeks to this idea in several of his works, however for a time in the Early Modern period, it was lost to René Descartes' (also known as Cartesian) belief of the two separate bodies. Only recently has this arcane thoguht been reintroduced into medical schools across the world.

The intent of Medical Psychology is to apply knowledge from all branches of psychology and medicine in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of all forms of physical diseases. Medical psychology asserts its main function in the determination of personality styles of coping and the examination of attitudes of an individual in response to subjective and objective stressors. Medical psychologists also help in the determination of genetic, biochemical, and physiologic factors in illnesses and reaction to illness. These, then, are joined with psychosocial factors deemed contributory to diseases processes. Specific behavioral methods are then used to help the person match coping and management skills to the person’s abilities, character, and personality style.

Background

Some doctors and philosophers today believe that this Cartesian line of thought is outdated. Some anecdotal evidence has been raised concerning the lack of effective treatment for things such as migraines, pains and cancer and that perhaps the cure should not only be centred on the body but also the mind. Some also raise the argument that most uncurable diseases are brought about not merely by physical ailments, but by mental problems. All evidence is of course unproven and will likely remain as such for a long time to come.

The contribution of medical psychologists to general health care increased with their use as primary care doctors in the world's largest HMO, the California Kaiser Permanente. These psychologists work along with primary care physicians in order to determine optimum treatment plans for all patients with physical and/or mental illnesses.

Education

An important contribution of medical psychology is in the education of patients (psychoeducation) in disease processes. Frequently, such education of the patient and the family insures substantially better compliance with treatment recommendations by physicians. Medical psychologists are particularly successful in the treatment of asthma, gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiac conditions, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain, headaches, and addictions (drugs, smoking, eating, alcohol, etc.).

Training in medical psychology entails a doctoral degree (Ph.D., or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology, an internship, and postdoctoral training in one of the branches of medicine traditionally associated with psychological fields: psychosomatic medicine, rehabilitation, neuropsychology (central nervous system functioning - brain functions), substance abuse, pain medicine, among others.

See also

• Health psychology

External links

• Medical Psychology Graduate Program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham

WIKITRIP

Medical Psychology refers to an emerging specialty of clinical psychological practice in which psychologists, who have undergone additional specialized education and training, may prescribe medications in the care and management of patients. In the United States, New Mexico and Louisiana, and several branches of the military currently authorize these psychologists to prescribe medications. In Louisiana, the term of medical psychologist refers, in statute, specifically to those psychologists authorized and licensed to prescribe medications, and mirrors precisely the terminology of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Behavioral Medicine (related to Clinical Health Psychology and Psychosomatic Medicine) is a related branch of clinical practice in which psychologists emphasize the biopsychosocial approach to medicine, a model which recognizes the importance of addressing the interaction between physical, psychological and social factors in both the prevention and management of disease. Practitioners of behavioral medicine differ from medical psychologists in that they focus on the scientific application of behavioral interventions to a wide variety of medical conditions (e.g., asthma, gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiac conditions, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain, headaches, and addictive illness.

Definition

Medical psychology, as defined by Division 55 of the American Psychological Association (APA), "is that branch of psychology that integrates somatic and psychotherapeutic modalities into the management of mental illness and emotional, cognitive, behavioral and substance use disorders." The specialty of medical psychology has established a specialty board certification, American Board of Medical Psychology and an Academy of Medical Psychology (http://www.amphome.org/) requiring a doctorate degree in psychology and extensive post doctoral training in the specialty and the passage of an oral or written examination. Medical psychologists are qualified to be members of the national practitioner association (National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers-NAPPP (http://nappp.org/) and are trained to treat the behavioral and psychological aspects of physical disorders and to treat mental disorders in primary care centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. Qualified psychologists can also become board certified in Behavioral Health Practice (http://abbhp.org/) and have their practices accredited by the National Institute of Behavioral Health Quality (http://nibhq.org).

Education

In 2006, the American Psychological Association (APA) recommended that the education and training of medical psychologists integrate instruction in the biological sciences, clinical medicine and pharmacology into a formalized program of postdoctoral education.

The following Clinical Competences are indentified as essential in the education and training of medical psychologists: I. Basic Science: anatomy, & physiology, biochemistry; II. Neurosciences: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry; III. Physical Assessment and Laboratory Exams: physical assessment, laboratory and radiological assessment, medical terminology and documentation and integration of this assessments and documentation; IV. Clinical Medicine and Pathophysiology: pathophysiology with emphasis on the principal physiological systems, clinical medicine, differential diagnosis, clinical correlation and case studies, chemical dependency and chronic pain management, integration of this topics; V. Clinical and Research Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology: pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, psychopharmacology, developmental psychopharmacology, integration of this topics through supervised clinical or laboratory experience in Clinical Medicine and ongoing treatment monitoring and evaluation; VI. Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics: professional, ethical and legal issues, combined therapies and its interactions, computer-based aids to practice, pharmacoepidemiology, integration of this knowledge through supervised clinical experience or laboratory experience; VII. Research: methodology and design of psychopharmacology research, interpretation and evaluation, FDA drug development and other regulatory processes, and with the Supervised Clinical Experience while they applied their clinical knowledge, and were assessed in their practical skills and competencies.

See also

• Prescriptive authority for psychologists movement
• Health psychology

External links

• http://division55.org/ American Psychological Association - Division 55 - American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy
• http://nappp.org/ National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers
• http://www.amphome.org/ Academy of Medical Psychology
• http://www.rxp.nappp.org/ National Alliance of Professional Psychology RxP Training Program
• http://division55.org/ContinuingEducation.htm Postdoctoral training programs in clinical psychopharmacology
• http://www.apapractice.org/apo/insider/professional/psychopharmacology.html# Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP)
• http://division55.org/TabletOnline.htm Division 55 newsletter "The Tablet"