Definition of health psychology
Health psychology is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the application of psychological knowledge and techniques to health, illness and health care.
Health psychologists generally hold a wholistic perspective on individual well-being. While the primary focus is on physical rather than mental health, in reality it is acknowledged that these are ‘two sides of a coin’. When a person has a physical illness they can experience anxiety or depression. When a person has a mental illness their behaviour or treatment may well lead to a deterioration in physical health. Feeling well involves mind, body and spirit. At a practical level, the health psychologist is concerned with the behaviour and experience of the individual, the interface of the individual with the health-care system, and with society as a whole.