Psicologia della salute e psicologia clinica: oppure psicologia clinica della salute

Abstract

- Clinical health psychology is a specialty widely recognized because of its evidence based practice, its contribution to an integrated health care system, and the costeffectiveness of its services. The specialty of clinical health psychology applies scientific bio-psycho-social knowledge to the promotion and maintenance of health, to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of illness and disability, and to promotion of the health care system. The distinct focus of clinical health psychology is on physical health problems, as delineated by ICD-10. In this article the authors review its definition, provide a brief overview of practice in the specialty, address the training in clinical health psychology. The greater degree of focused science and practice in a specialty is the consequence of advances of the discipline and profession of psychology. In every case, the future holds a variety of important challenges and opportunity in research, practice, training and policy. Key words: clinical health psychology, bio-psycho-social model, clinical psychology, health psychology, education and training, specialization.