These free B.Pharm notes on psychology in health sciences cover chapter 1 of Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills, a first-semester subject. Read the key points below, then study the complete chapter PDF. You can browse every chapter in the Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills category.
Table of Contents
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Overview of psychology in health sciences
This chapter defines psychology in health sciences as the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes related to health, illness and healthcare. It explains how health psychology, behavioral medicine and medical psychology differ, describes six areas of scope, lists eight reasons for its relevance, and compares the biomedical and bio-psychosocial models.
Key points on psychology in health sciences
- Psychology in health sciences is the scientific study of the behavioural, thinking, emotional and social factors that influence health and quality of life.
- The definition has three parts: it is scientific, it focuses on behaviour, and it involves mental processes such as pain, anxiety, fear and hope.
- Health psychology promotes health and prevents illness, behavioral medicine joins biomedical and behavioral sciences, and medical psychology applies psychological principles to the practice of medicine in clinical settings.
- The biomedical model is reductionist and disease-centred with a passive patient, while the bio-psychosocial model is holistic and patient-centred, with an active participant.
- Psychology matters because the disease burden has shifted to non-communicable diseases driven by behaviour, and because non-adherence, pain and the doctor-patient relationship all have psychological roots.
Relevance to pharmacy practice
A pharmacist deals with patients whose health depends on behaviour, beliefs and emotions, not only on drugs. Understanding psychology helps in improving adherence, supporting patients with long-term illness, and treating the whole person instead of just the disease.
Every chapter in this subject builds on the one before it, so do not skip topics that look simple. Definitions, classifications and examples are the parts that examiners return to most often, and a clear understanding here will also make later subjects easier to follow in the coming semesters.
Frequently asked questions on psychology in health sciences
What is psychology in health sciences?
It is the scientific study of the behavioural, thinking, emotional and social factors that influence health and quality of life. It uses the WHO idea of health as physical, mental and social well-being.
What is the difference between the biomedical and bio-psychosocial model?
The biomedical model sees only biological causes of disease and a passive patient. The bio-psychosocial model sees biological, psychological and social factors and treats the patient as an active participant.
What is the scope of psychology in health sciences?
The six areas are health promotion and prevention, etiology and pathophysiology, clinical management and treatment, healthcare systems and organization, special populations and lifespan, and methodology and assessment.
Quick revision checklist
Use this self-test after reading the chapter on psychology in health sciences. If you can do all of the following without looking at your notes, you are ready for the exam.
- I can explain: the definition of psychology in health sciences
- I can explain: the three parts of the definition
- I can explain: health psychology versus behavioral medicine
- I can explain: the six areas of scope
- I can explain: the biomedical and bio-psychosocial models
Study and exam tips
Start by reading the chapter once for the overall idea, then revise psychology in health sciences using headings, definitions, classifications and examples. Short-answer questions in the university exam usually ask for definitions, features, advantages, disadvantages and examples, so write these in your own words and practise drawing the tables and flow charts that the chapter has.
For wider reading, standard textbooks and open resources such as the NCBI Bookshelf help you confirm terms and see more examples. Revise psychology in health sciences again a day later and again a week later, because spaced revision improves long-term memory.
This page is part of the Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills series for first-semester B.Pharm students on B.Pharm Guru, where every chapter has a short summary and a full PDF. Bookmark this page and share it with classmates who are preparing for the same exam.
Related notes: 3. SENSATION, PERCEPTION AND ATTENTION IN CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, 4. LEARNING AND MEMORY – REINFORCEMENT IN HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE.
Next: 2. BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY WITH HEALTHCARE RELEVANCE. Back to the Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills category.
