Medical Psychology

Medical psychology is the application of psychological ideas in medical practice, particularly in drug-oriented treatment of both mental and physical diseases. Cognitive, substance use, emotional, and behavioral issues all require psychological principles to be addressed. A medical psychologist must meet certain credentials in order to treat specific psychiatric medications and pharmaceutical pharmaceuticals, as stated in psychopharmacology (Ayers and de Visser 5). To prescribe psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, for the treatment of neurotic disorders, trained healthcare psychologists must have prescriptive authority comparable to that of a mid-level practitioner. Most medical psychologists are not permitted to administer medicines.  However, medical psychologists play a relevant role in healthcare promotion, for instance, they apply the scientific psychological results, psychotherapy techniques, interpersonal, lifestyle, family, behavior modification and cognitive therapies in improving the physical and psychological health of the patients (Wallace 9). The level of education determines the refinement, for example, a medical psychologist with postdoctoral training is equipped with the refined skills in psychology and health care. These individuals are trained to the level that enables them to provide medical treatment to the patients.

Medical psychology combines science and the bio-psychosocial concept of a disease and basic medical attitude which explains all the activities of the physicians. It is necessary for the medical psychologists to obtain the pre-doctoral training in other disciplines such as rehabilitation, health, clinical, neuropsychology and pediatric psychology. In that way, they are able to address a wide range of psychological issues and even provide medication instructions when required (Prokop and Laurence 14).

There are various concepts which guide medical psychology. Human beings are considered as a bio-psycho entity, which means that both the biological and psychology parts have to be taken care of for an individual to be regarded healthy. When treating the ailing physical part, it is necessary to account for the psychology parts such as emotional and spiritual. They should be addressed to ensure that holistic care is achieved (Wallace 11). The other principle indicates that change in one of the components of the human being affects the entire system. When a patient has some emotional disturbances, they will start provoking some mental complications due to excessive thinking, and lastly, the physical part will also be affected. Therefore, medical psychology is meant to examine all the concepts and ensure that the existing components operate in the right way. The social part also significantly contributes to the well-being of people as the surrounding environmental factors affect the psychology of an individual. style

There are basic tasks conducted in medical psychology. A range of follow-up programs applied in various activities, for instance, in relationships. The therapist is not only supporting by providing advice but also monitoring whether the clients are following what was discussed in the therapy. It is necessary for measuring the effectiveness of the approaches used to address the problem.

Analysis of the mind and body relationship is another task, where the medical psychologist determines how the effect on either the body or the mind impacts the other. It helps in striking a balance between the two to ensure that none is affected negatively. Additionally, the role of the mind in various aspects such as appearance and illness results is determined. Hence, it assists in ensuring that the mind is always in the proper state to avoid any adverse effects on other components of a human being (Ayers and de Visser 12).

There are various practical issues associated with medical psychology. The healthcare psychologists should be educated with regard to the psychological events in medicine. Holistic medical services are the best in the medical care since they address all the concepts pertaining to the well-being of a human being. The cognitive, emotional, substance use and behavioral aspects have to be accounted for for a patient to be fit. It is necessary to offer support to the staff members so that they can learn how to deal with different cases since the psychological needs are unique in every patient.

The other practical issues concern the support provided to the patients and their families in coping with the illness. There are various diseases which affect the entire family, for instance, stress and depression; therefore, the family members should be guided on how to avoid the stressing factors and an ambient environment for the patient to recuperate ought to be created.

The other practical issue is developing awareness on the rehabilitation, psycho-hygiene and other factors which adversely and positively affect the psychology of an individual (Prokop and Laurence 17).

Medical psychologists perform various duties in their line of work depending on the qualification. These professionals are equipped and trained in the modification of the physical status of an illness and studying the cellular composition of the tissues making up the body. They also help in modifying the central nervous and other systems related to it through the application of the pharmacological and psychological methods, though it has to be authorized. Medical psychologists also assist in the prevention of the illness progress which is associated with the choice of lifestyle, chronic exposure, poor personal choices, conceptualization and behavioral patterns such as negative context, pessimistic thinking, and attitudes. Medical psychologists specialize in training in psychopharmacology, prescribing psychoactive substances only when authorized (Ayers and de Visser 15). These professionals conduct their activities through integration of the biological, social and psychological factors of human beings which will result in promotion of the patients’ well-being. Medical psychologists are trained to work in collaboration with the physicians so that to provide the best care to the clients.

There are qualifications which a medical psychologist should have to be able to practice. A specialist psychology should have a Board Certification attained from the American Board of Medical Psychology, which requires a doctorate degree in psychology. A license as well as an oral and written examination, provided by the American Board of Medical Psychology, are needed when a psychologist is ready for work. The Board makes sure that a distinction is maintained between the psychopharmacological and specialists’ psychology so that each group can be aware of the medical practices they can and cannot conduct. The psychologist specialists apply evidence-based in their practice to make sure that positive results are got from their operations (Prokop and Laurence 21). Though there are researches which indicate that the body and the mind are two different entities, psychologists prefer to study the relation of the mind, body, and the surrounding environment, since they all influence each other in one way or another.

There are various assumptions which guide medical psychologists. As patients are considered as bio-psycho-social human beings, in order to be able to help them, it is necessary to analyze their psychological, biological aspects as well as social surroundings. In case one of the factors is not addressed, for instance, the psychological part, healing the physical one may not be successful. A psychologist should determine everything that can affect the patient so that to be able to provide holistic care. The other assumption is that when one of the aspects is affected, the entire system is influenced as well. Each part of the components of human beings are detrimental to their well-being, and it is thus necessary to ensure that they are operational for the health of the patient to be achieved. Moreover, the sufferer has to be willing to change so that to restore his or her well-being, for instance, some adjustments in social behaviour to avoid a negative effect on health (Wallace 29).

In conclusion, medical psychology is necessary in attaining holistic care as it addresses the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the patients. The psychological principles are necessary for attending to the cognitive, substance use, emotional and behavioural disorders. Medical psychologists play a relevant role in health care promotion, for example, they utilize the scientific psychological results, psychotherapy techniques, interpersonal, lifestyle, family, behaviour modification and cognitive therapies in improving the physical and psychological health of the patients. Medical psychologists carry out various duties in their line of work depending on the qualification. They are equipped and trained in the modification of the physical status of an illness and studying the cellular composition of the tissues making up the body. To successfully perform their tasks and responsibilities, the medical psychologists have to work hand-in-hand with the physicians as they cannot offer medication, unless they are authorized.

Works Cited

Ayers, Susan, and Richard de Visser. Psychology for Medicine. SAGE Publications, 2010.

Prokop, Charles, and Bradley Laurence. Medical Psychology: Contributions to Behavioral Medicine. Academic Press, 1981.

Wallace, Edwin R. History of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology: With an Epilogue on Psychiatry and the Mind Body Relation. Springer, 2008.