Explain how psychological problems can cause or affect medical problems, and how medical problems can cause or affect psychological problems.
Discuss how and why behavioral medicine extend our conception of disease beyond the traditional medical focus on physical breakdown of organs and organs systems.
Explain the role cortisol and other hormones play in stress reaction, and why extended contact can be problematic over the longer term.
Describe the function of the immune system, and the specialized roles by B-cells, T-cells and macrophages.
Explain the interactions between the nervous system, the immune system, and behavior; and psychoneuroimmunology’s relationship to them.
Explain what cytokines are, how they work, and why researchers are so excited about them.
Explain why negative emotional states can impair the function of the immune system and the cardiovascular system.
Discuss damaging habits and lifestyles—such as smoking—and how they enhance risk for physical disease.
Explain the relationships between chronic negative emotions—such as anger, hostility, anxiety, and depression—and physical illness.
Discuss positive psychology as an emerging field associated with health and well-being.
Explain why a patient’s physical factors—such as genetic vulnerabilities and possible organ weaknesses—need to be considered during treatment regardless of strong evidence of psychological contributions to its development.
Explain cognitive-behavior therapy’s promise in helping an individual’s coping resources for managing stressful life circumstances.
