What health psychologists do

Health psychologists work as researchers and practitioners, dealing with such problems as high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS. As researchers, health psychologists work in a wide variety of areas.

Health psychologists work as researchers and practitioners work in the medical field, in such settings as hospitals and clinics. Astounding technological advances have been made in meicine in the last few years, including heart transplants and bypass surgery. According to Jack Copeland, a cardiothoracic surgeon, patients almost uniformly have accompanying psychological problems – extreme guilt in the case of transplant patients, plus worry over changes in appearance, adjustment to dietary restrictions, change in activity level, and so on.

Health psychologist therefore often work hand-in-hand with physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other staff. They help patients and their families make critical decisions. They help patients before and after surgery or other treatment by letting them know what to expect. For example, before recommending bypass surgery, cardiologists often order several tests that can be frightening and painful. By discussing the purpose of the tests and suggesting ways to cope with them, psychologists can help patients manage the accompanying stress.