PSYC 318 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Behavioral Medicine
Document Summary
(not on exam) physical disorders and health psychology. Psychological and social factors play a major role in developing and maintaining a number of physical disorders. Two fields of study have emerged as a result of a growing interest in psychological factors contributing to illness. Behavioral medicine involves the application of behavioral science techniques to prevent, diagnose, and treat medical problems. Health psychology is a subfield that focuses on psychological factors involved in the promotion of health and well-being. Psychological and social factors may contribute directly to illness and disease through the psychological effects of stress on the immune system and other physical functioning. If the immune system is compromised, it may no longer be able to attack and eliminate antigens from the body effectively, or it may even begin to attack the body"s normal tissue instead, a process known as autoimmune disease.
