Psy-512: Health Psychology

Credit Hours: 04(3-1)

Objectives

 To understand the present methodologies and concepts in health psychology

 To equip students with knowledge of physical illnesses related to psychological
problems

Course Contents:
Introduction
The brain hypothesis
 The Biomedical Model
 The Bio-psychosocial Model
 Aims of Health Psychology
The Systems of Body
 Nervous System
 Endocrine System

Health Belief and Health Behavior

 Factors in predicting Health Behavior
 The Modification of Health Behavior
 Health Enhancing Behavior
 Health Compromising Behavior: Smoking, Use of Alcohol
 Intervention to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption

Psycho physiological Disorders and Health Psychology

 Stress, Theories of Stress and Illness
 Cardiovascular Disorder
 Asthma, AIDS, Diabetes, Cancer

Patient in the Treatment Setting

 Use of Health Services
 Patient Practitioner Interaction
 Pain and Its Management

Practicum:
 Students will submit five case studies of physical illnesses related to
psychological disturbances or of psychological and behavioral factors of an illness /
health compromising behavior (smoking, alcohol, drug abuse etc.)

Books Recommended

1. Bernard, L. C. & Krupat, E. (1994). Health psychology: Bio-psychological factors

in health and illness. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
2. Boll, T. J., Raczynski, J. M., & Leviton, L. C. (2004). Handbook of clinical health
psychology: Disorders of behavior and health. Washington, DC: American
Psychological Association.
3. Brannon, L. & Reist, J. (2000). Health psychology: An introduction to behavior
and health. (4th Ed.). USA: Wadsworth.
4. Cockerham, W. C. (1998). Medical sociology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.