In a message dated 4/21/99 10:19:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Subj: Behavioral Medicine > Date: 4/21/99 10:19:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Kathleen T. Doherty) > Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">[EMAIL PROTECTED] </A> (Kathleen T. Doherty) > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Hi folks -- > > Can someone explain the difference between Behavioral Medicine and Health > Psychology? The brief explanations I've found in texts are still somewhat > vague. > > Kathy Doherty > > Hi Kathy et al., Although in research & practice the boundaries overlap, in my experience Behavioral Medicine is to "diagnosis and treat" (use of Psych principles to improve diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions), whereas Health Psychology is to "prevent" (use of Psych principles to educate and prevent medical conditions). . . .probably no better of an explanation than that offered in the Intro texts !! BTW - I had been told (by the 'co-founder' and director of Behav Med at Univ of Michigan for well over 20 years) that the roots of Behavioral Medicine go back to research conducted on smoking cessation at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. . . . Yet with an internet search I happened upon the following: <A HREF="http://people.unt.edu/~qmb0001/defpage1.html">Definitions of Behavioral Medicine </A> <A HREF="http://people.unt.edu/~qmb0001/defpage1.html"> </A> <A HREF="http://people.unt.edu/~qmb0001/bmhomepg.htm">The History of Behavioral Medicine </A> . . . . perhaps it depends on one's perspective !! ? Sandra p.s. On a different topic, I've used green for years. . . as 'they' (whoever they are) say "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." =) ************************************************************************* Sandra Nagel Randall, Ph.D. Wayne County Community College District, MI Department of Human and Community Development 22265 Carleton Ave. Southfield, MI 48034 Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada Biopsychology Consultant [EMAIL PROTECTED] Off: 248-948-8162 Fax: 248-948-5090 <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/snrandall">http://members.aol.com/snrandall </A> **************************************************************************