Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine - Elsevier eBook on VitalSource, 3rd Edition

This third edition contains a new introduction on the importance and key features of the biopsychosocial model and additional double-page spreads on International Health and Rural Health.

The life cycle

The biopsychosocial model. Pregnancy and childbirth. Reproductive issues. Development in early infancy. Childhood and child health. Adolescence. Adulthood and middle age. Social aspects of ageing. Bereavement.

Development of the person

Personality and health. Understanding learning. Perception. Emotions. Memory problems. How does sexuality develop? Intelligence. Development of thinking.

Society and health

Understanding groups. Concepts of health, illness and disease. Measuring health and illness. Changing patterns of health and illness. Social class and health. Gender and health. Ethnicity and health. Quality of life. Media and health. Housing, homelessness and health. Work and health. Unemployment and health. Labelling and stigma.

Preventing illness and promoting health

Perceptions of risk and risk-taking behaviours. What is prevention? What are the objectives of health promotion? Health screening. The social implications of the new genetics. Health beliefs, motivation and behaviour. Changing cognitions and behaviour. Helping people act on their intentions. The social context of behavioural change. Illegal drug use. Alcohol use. Smoking, tobacco control and doctors. Eating, body shape and health.

Illness behaviour and the doctor-patient encounter

Deciding to consult. Seeing the doctor. Placebo and nocebo effects. Patient adherence. Communication skills. Breaking bad news. Self-care and the popular sector. The experience of hospitals. Psychological preparation for surgery.

Illness and disability

Heart disease. HIV/AIDS. Cancer. Anxiety. Depression. Inflammatory bowel disease. Physical disability. Learning disability. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Diabetes mellitus. Stress and health. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Death and dying.

Coping with illness and disability

What counselling is. How counselling works. Adaptation, coping and control. Cognitive-behavioural therapy. Role of carers. Self-help groups. Palliative care. Complementary therapies. The Management of pain.

How do health services work?

Organizing and funding health care. Assessing needs. Setting priorities and rationing. Community care. Health: a global perspective. Health: a rural perspective.

How do you fit into all this

Medical students’ experience. Life as a trainee doctor. The profession of medicine.

Beth Alder, BSc, PhD, CPsychol, FBPsS, Emeritus Professor, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK, Edwin Roland van Teijlingen, MA, MEd, PhD, Professor, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK, Honorary Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Visiting Professor, Nobel College, Pokhara University, Kathmandu, Nepal, Visiting Professor, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal and Michael Porter, BA, MPhil, Senior Lecturer, General Practice Section, Division of Community Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK
Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences