Health Psychology

This unit of study will introduce the field of clinical health psychology together with theoretical frameworks linking psychological and physical aspects of health and illness and key concepts relevant to health and medical psychology. Learning will focus on the application of clinical psychology principles and techniques to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of illness. Psychological assessment within health settings and adherence to treatment and preparation for medical procedures will be covered. Applications of clinical psychology will be considered across a range of health settings including primary health and hospital in-patient/outpatient services. Other factors such as various medical conditions (including chronic, acute and psychosomatic), psychosocial determinants of health (violence against women, child sexual assault, socioeconomic status, indigenous background), and life stages (e.g. paediatric, adolescent, adult and aged) are considered. The role of clinical psychologists in developing behaviour change programs for various levels of prevention will be discussed.