Electronic Inspection Copy available for instructors 'A fantastic contribution to health psychology. My PhD students and medical students are instructed to read it (not often I recommend books these days). It feels like the field has been waiting for this for a long time' - Dr Lis Cordingley

Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Manchester

An engaging introduction to the interrelationships between mind and body across a broad range of topics including infectious illness, autoimmunity, cancer and pain. Taking a biopsychosocial approach, it brings together research from a number of disciplines including health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology and behavioural genetics.

Students are encouraged to consider how advances in psychobiological research can help us to uncover the true complexity of links between psychological, biological and social processes with respect to implications for health and how such advances can inform the development of interventions and treatment.

Dr Kate Hamilton-West is a Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of Kent

The Mind-Body Connection

Changing Conceptualisations of Mind and Body

Emerging Disciplines

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

The Link between Stress and Illness

The History of the Stress Concept

Cognitive Models

Biological Models

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Positive Processes in Health and Illness

From Stress to Emotion

Emotion, Coping and Health

Well-Being

Summary and Conclusions

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

A Healthy Disposition

Introduction

How Do Genes Influence Health?

Genetic Advances and Identifying Disease Genes

Predictive Genetic Testing

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Pain

What Is Pain?

Theories of Pain

Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Pain

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

At-Risk Populations

Introduction

Socio-Economic Status and Health

People with Psychiatric Illness

Older People

Long-Term Caregivers

Summary and Conclusions

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Psychobiological Interventions

Introduction

Coping-Based Approaches

Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Methodological Issues in Psychobiological Research

Introduction

How Can We Determine Whether or not Psychological Factors Influence Health?

Designing and Evaluating Health Interventions

Summary

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Summary and Future Directions

What Have We Learned so Far?

What Questions Have We Yet to Adequately Address?

Technological Advances

Summary and Conclusions

Key Terms

Discussion Questions

Further Reading

Glossary

References

Index