Comment: Mental Health Is Not a Fearsome Thing.

Letter comments on the June 1963 American Psychologist. According to the author, there is a great deal of experimentation and research to be done and an opportunity to funnel into mental health the many behavioral science and technological advances and apply them toward the needs of a growing and problem-wracked society. He states that psychology has a challenge of actively participating, or abdicating and letting other professional groups pre-empt the area of mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evolution of the Biopsychosocial Model: Prospects and Challenges for Health Psychology.

Although advances have been made in specifying connections between biological, psychological, and social processes, the full potential of the biopsychosocial model for health psychology remains untapped. In this article, 4 areas that need to be addressed to ensure the continued evolution of the biopsychosocial model are identified and a series of recommendations concerning initiatives directed at research, training, practice and intervention, and policy are delineated. These recommendations emphasize the need to better understand and utilize linkages among biological, psychological, social, and macrocultural variables. Activities that facilitate the adoption of a multisystem, multilevel, and multivariate orientation among scientists, practitioners, and policymakers will most effectively lead to the kinds of transdisciplinary contributions envisioned by the biopsychosocial perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health Psychology: What Will the Future Bring?

This commentary highlights several important themes and trends in this series of articles focusing on the future of health psychology. First, the challenges posed by changes in populations will only be met if health psychologists can develop a contextual competency. Second, with increasing evidence for the efficacy of health psychology interventions comes heightened interest in testing the effectiveness of these interventions. Third, issues of cost-effectiveness of health psychology will become increasingly important. Fourth, the growing integration of technological advances (e.g., telehealth, the Internet) into health psychology has major implications. Finally, the numerous changes outlined in this series of articles will demand that health psychologists extend and refine their theoretical models including the biopsychosocial model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public Health and Psychology: An Important, Expanding Interaction.

The authors opine that the behavioral sciences and the field of psychology are absolutely vital in meeting the nation's needs regarding health and health policy. Psychologists have become increasingly involved in health psychology, as reflected by the establishment and rapid growth of Division 38 (Health Psychology). This expansion of psychologists' involvement in physical health research and intervention has led to increased contact between psychologists and nurses, public health experts, and nonpsychiatric physicians. With such contact, psychologists are being recruited into the faculties of schools of nursing, schools of public health, and schools of medicine. This article examines aspects of psychology's role in, involvement with, and contribution to one sector of this arena--public health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meeting U.S. Health Care Needs: A Challenge to Psychology.

Is there really a growing need for primary care psychologists? U.S. population health statistics reveal a great deal of variability in the care Americans receive and in their associated health outcomes. Members of minority groups, the inner-city poor, and rural Americans bear a disproportionate burden of ill health. The decreasing pool of primary care physicians is documented as well as is the growing pool of nonphysician primary care providers. The need to expand the nature of psychological interventions in primary care is examined, and change in the training of professional psychologists is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health Services and Health Care Economics: The Health Psychology Marketplace.

In an effort toward cost containment, the health care system in the United States has undergone radical changes in the last decade. These changes have influenced the delivery of clinical health psychology services. This article reviews several economic and marketing factors salient to the clinical health psychology marketplace. For example, these economic changes have placed greater emphasis on the need for cost-effectiveness and accountability in the health psychology field. Implications for education and training, collaboration with other health care specialties, new practice initiatives, and public relations are reviewed. Future challenges and opportunities for clinical health psychology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Medical psychology: Contributions to behavioral medicine.

Reviews the book, Medical psychology: Contributions to behavioral medicine edited by Charles K. Prokop and Laurence A. Bradley (1981). This book is another generally commendable entry on a growing list of books that overview the field of Medical Psychology, Health Psychology, or Behavioral Medicine. The book is divided into four sections: An Introduction, Assessment of Medical Disorders, Treatment and Prevention of Medical Disorders, and Special Topics in Medical Psychology and Behavioral Medicine. The second and third sections account for the bulk of the volume and comprise critical reviews of psychological approaches to assessment and treatment of specific health problems. Both assessment and treatment are mentioned by the editors as areas in which medical psychology has made unique contributions to behavioral medicine. Other issues described as important contributions--issues such as prevention and evaluation--are covered only briefly. This book is a highly useful source book. It is especially valuable to the applied researcher or practitioner who works with several departments in a medical school or other health setting. For such individuals, this volume can provide research and treatment programs in the specialty areas represented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology as a Health-Care Profession: Implications for training.

This article places a magnifying glass on psychology's current training realities in the context of global health developments, particularly those of the Canadian health-care system. The authors argue that curriculum review and revision is needed to solidify psychology as a true health care profession; such a review should be proactive and must consider the likely changes in our overall health-care system. In preparing for anticipated changes in health care, it is proposed that curricula modifications be made to better reflect how psychology can contribute (in a broad fashion) to the health of Canadians. Two particular models for psychology's future role are offered for discussion: a) a modified, comprehensive parallel/vertical model that sees psychologists similar to other health-care providers; versus, b) a more innovative horizontal/cross-cutting model in which psychologists provide a unique blend of education, innovation, teaching, system consultation, prevention, as well as direct service provision, to patients with physical and mental health problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and Health: Research, Practice, and Policy.

Since World War II, American psychology's role in health care has significantly expanded. This was formally recognized in 2001 when the membership of the American Psychological Association (APA) approved a bylaw change in its mission statement to include the word health. An accumulating body of research demonstrates and recent reviews conclude that psychological factors are primary in health and in illnesses. This article proposes a vision of psychology that endorses a bio-psycho-socio-cultural model of health research and interventions. The author provides 4 definitions of health, reviews selected psychology health research and interventions, summarizes APA's recent health-related activities, and presents 5 policy recommendations for consideration and debate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managed Care: Implications for School Psychology. Comment.

Comments on the article by Sanchez and Turner (see record 2003-03405-005) examining the implications for practice and training in psychology in the era of managed care. The current author states that Sanchez and Turner should be commended. Their article amplifies and clarifies critical issues psychologists must consider while practicing within an era increasingly shaped by health insurance policies and practices. Nevertheless, the author feels that several intriguing facets of managed care were not highlighted. Discussion focuses on the impact that reimbursement and managed care is having on school (and clinical) psychologists. The author points out that it is unknown to what extent managed care may (and has) altered psychological services delivered by school psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training Psychology Interns in Primary Behavioral Health Care.

This article describes a training program for primary behavioral health care (PBHC) for clinical psychology interns. The authors discuss the rationale for integrating mental health into primary care and the need for additional training programs at the predoctoral internship level. A review of relevant literature suggests that effective functioning in primary care requires competence in (a) generalist psychology, (b) health psychology, (c) interdisciplinary team functioning, and (d) skills specific to primary care. The authors advocate for a relatively intensive training program to address these areas. Common intern training difficulties observed during 3 years of program implementation are discussed. Practical, lessons-learned recommendations that address these problem areas provide guidance for others seeking to develop a PBHC training program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice: Implications for Psychology and Psychoanalysis.

The reviewer notes that the Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice (SRMHP), which began publication in 2002, seeks to publish rigorous, research-based critiques of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment techniques. Unlike other journals in its field, however, the SRMHP specifically seeks empirical reviews of "controversial and unorthodox" psychological concepts, tools, and interventions. This review addresses three related questions. First, does the SRMHP fulfill its stated goals? Second, is this journal good for psychology? Third--and most important in the present context--is it good for psychoanalysis? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the Special Section on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Implications for Rehabilitation Psychology.

This introduction to the special section of Rehabilitation Psychology on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) previews how implications for rehabilitation psychology are explored through 4 articles, each designed to build on the presentation and discussion of the prior piece: an overview of the ICF classification system; a review of contemporary applications of the ICF to clinical, government, and research uses; an update on clinical implementation efforts and related conceptual issues; and a specific application of the ICF to assistive technology service provision. The special section presents the ICF as a compelling development in the classification of functioning and health in health care service provision and, in particular, rehabilitation psychology practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spirituality, Health, and the Discipline of Psychology.

Replies to comments by D. J. McCormick (see record 2004-10043-013), L. J. Richmond (see record 2004-10043-014), C. A. Rayburn (see record 2004-10043-015), and F. J. Kier and D. S. Davenport (see record 2004-10043-016) on the special section on spirituality, religion, and health in the January 2003 issue of American Psychologist (2003, Vol 58, 24-74). Each of the comments is addressed in turn. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Manitoba's Rural and Northern Community-Based Training Program for Psychology Interns and Residents.

This article describes a unique internship training experience developed by the Department of Clinical Health Psychology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Manitoba. Interns live in and provide services to remote northern communities for half of the internship year and receive supervision from a psychologist in the community, supplemented by telehealth. The department also offers a full-year, postdoctoral rural residency. Ten interns and 4 residents have been trained so far. The community-based generalist training model and responses to the challenges, for both supervisors and trainees, of working in small underserved communities are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical Psychology in Medical Education.

Greenfield's excellent appraisal (Amer. Psychologist, 1960, 15, 624-625) of the role of clinical psychology in medical education deserves commendation. Despite its brevity, it offers a great deal. In fact, it reads so well and makes such good sense, I was hopeful, as I neared the end, that Greenfield might have an answer to the question he raises implicitly: "What is the unique role of psychology in medical education?" To be sure, this question has plagued the now respectable number of psychologists in medical schools for some time. In my view, the clinical psychologist's "identity as psychologist" is related to his having a PhD which, in turn, is related to his unique contribution to a medical school. To me, the uniqueness is his research role. He may be a teacher, clinician, administrator, jack-of-all-trades. But, to his colleagues, though not always to himself, he is unique because he (supposedly) is prepared as an investigator in human behavior. To our medical school colleagues in the basic sciences (and also to others) the PhD degree represents scholarship, scientific background, and preparation for research. The question must remain: "What is psychology's unique role in medical education?" It happens that the greatest number of psychologists in medical schools are clinical psychologists. But, to look for the answer to the question in terms of the needs and interests of the clinician would be taking a far more narrow view of the problem than it deserves. I think Greenfield would agree. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Force Four Psychology: Interactionism.

Notes that the three previous major forces setting the direction of applied psychology have been psychoanalytic, behavioral, and humanistic. All of them have been blended to some extent, but all, over time, have retained their basic flavors. The persons today most closely associated with each of the three forces are S. Freud, B. F. Skinner, and A. Maslow, respectively. Behaviorism was an attempt to make psychology more scientific. Humanistic psychology, the third force, is a reaction or really the antithesis to the first two. The current author describes "interactionistic psychology" or "force four psychology" as a possible synthesis of the previous three forces. A working definition of interactionism, taken from a quote by S. Chess (1979), is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Future of Health Psychology Interventions.

Progress in health psychology interventions was reviewed to manage chronic illness, treat psychophysiological disorders, and provide complementary treatment for difficult medical symptoms. A closer synergy between research, clinical applications and public policy, and education and training was advocated to guide future work in these areas. Further, the importance of clinical input informing research directions, the need for interventions to focus on a broader range of individual difference and contextual factors, and for effectiveness studies to influence the adoption of treatments in clinical settings was emphasized. In accordance, greater effort should be devoted to disseminating information on treatment effectiveness to professional and lay groups to maximize the public health benefit of established intervention approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Telehealth Brain Injury Training for Rural Behavioral Health Generalists: Supporting and Enhancing Rural Service Delivery Networks.

Rural psychologists are frontline primary behavioral health care providers for nearly 60 million Americans, but they face limited access to peer consultation and continuing education. This article describes a program that matched 70 rehabilitation inpatients who had new brain injury with rural clinicians from patients' home communities. Neuropsychologists provided one-on-one training for clinicians through telehealth video teleconferencing. Clinicians showed gains in brain injury knowledge, and clients rated trained providers higher than untrained providers. Families seeking brain injury services can connect with these trained rural providers through a Web site, which receives more than 800 hits per month. Telehealth offers potential for rural clinicians to receive support, reduce professional isolation, gain working knowledge of specialty conditions, and deliver high-quality services for their rural clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From Theory to Application and Back Again: Implications of Research on Medical Expertise for Psychological Theory.

Research directed at an understanding of medical expertise is about 30 years old, and many developments in this literature parallel progress in cognitive psychology. Over the past 15 years or so, this research became much more closely identified with particular psychological theories. Initial forays into medicine were essentially direct applications of methods developed in the psychology lab to the more natural domain of medicine, with varying degrees of success. These attempts were followed by a second wave that took the psychological theories themselves more seriously in a more thoughtful application of psychological methods to the medical domain. I will argue in the present paper that the methods and theories used in the study of medical expertise have advanced to the point that there is some reverse flow and they are providing a unique and valuable perspective on the nature of thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)