Undergraduate Certificate in Health Psychology 

Facets of Health Psychology

Significance of Health Psychology

Health Psychology and Related Areas

Research Methods – Epidemiological Methods, Survey Methods, Experimental Methods and Clinical Methods

Concept and Determinants of Health Behaviour

Theoretical Approaches to Health Behaviour - The Health Belief Model, The Theory of Reasoned Action and Learning Theory Approaches to Health Behaviour

Concept and Dimensions of Illness cognitions, Leventhal’s self-regulatory model of illness cognitions (Stage 1: Interpretation, Stage 2: Coping, Stage 3: Appraisal)

Problems with assessment (stage 1: interpretation -symptom perception and social messages; stage 2: coping- coping with a diagnosis and coping with the crisis of illness)

Assignment

Using the self-regulatory model to predict outcomes (Predicting adherence to treatment, predicting recovery from stroke and Predicting recovery from MI)

Changing Attitudes and Beliefs

Behavioural Technology- Cognitive – Behavioural Approaches and Specific Techniques

Attitude and Behaviour Change Principles – Appeals by Physicians, Mass Media Appeals, Promoting Health in Schools and Work Place, Self- help Groups

Assignment

Specific Health Problems – Smoking, Alcohol Abuse, Obesity and Weight Control and Exercise

Nature and Conceptualisation of Stress - Cannon’s fight or Flight Response, Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome and Stress and Psychological Appraisal

Measurement of Stress – Self –report Measures, Performance Measures, Physiological Measures and Biochemical Measures

Stress and Disease – Stress and Behaviour, The Psychophysiology of Stress

Assignment

Stress and Specific Health Problems- Peptic Ulcers, Asthma and Sports Injury

Coping Process, Coping Goals and Strategies, Coping and Health

Psychological Control as a Moderator of Stress – Gaining a Sense of control and Individual Differences in Perceived Control

Personality and Coping- Personality Traits and Stress, Disease- Prone Personality and Hardy personality

Assignment

Social Support

Stress Management – Relaxation, Meditation, Biofeedback, Physical Activity and Stress Inoculation Training

Nature and Socio-cultural Context of Illness

Perceiving Symptoms – Physiological and Psychological symptoms

Assignment

Factors in Symptom Perception and Accuracy in Symptom Perception

Responding to Illness – Types of Illness Response, Illness Behaviour as Coping, Delaying Medical Care and Overusing Medical Care

Psycho social Dimensions of Chronic Illness and Disability- Psychological Aspects, Social Aspects and Helping People Cope

Breaking the Bad News: Helping the Patient Understand the situation

Assignment

Psychological Intervention and Chronic Illness

Chronic Illness and Rehabilitation

Illness and Gender Quotient

Illness in Childhood

Assignment

Illness and Ageing

Living with Diabetes- Nature, Psychosocial Dimensions and Helping People Live with Diabetes

Dealing with Arthritis - Nature, Psychosocial Dimensions and Helping People Live with Arthritis

Living with Alzheimer’s disease – Impact on Family, Helping Families Cope

Assignment

Cancer

Coronary Heart Disease

Pain Physiology and Psychosocial Factors in the experience of Pain

Theories of Pain – Early Pain Theories and Gate Control Theory

Assignment

Controlling Pain – physical Methods, Psychological Approaches and Pain Clinics

Concept of Death and Facing the Thought of Death

Dying Trajectories, Stages in Reactions to Dying, Social Relationships and Dying

Management of the Dying Patient

Assignment