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Psychology of Health - PSY00058H

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Psychology of Health combines the areas of medical and health psychology exploring and emphasizing the role of psychological factors in the cause, progression and consequences of health and illness. It is also concerned with understanding how psychological and cultural factors contribute to healthcare overall. Psychology of health aims to understand and explain the role of behaviour in aetiology of illness, relationship between psychology and physiology, and role of psychology in experience and treatment of illness. It has also practical aims of integrating psychological care into general medical practice. The goal of this course is to introduce the students to the most relevant aspects of health and medical psychology such as behavioral medicine, medical image interpretation, pain and neuropsychology, the research being done on these topics and to consider how this knowledge is applied in practice.

Module learning outcomes

  • Differentiate different aspects of health attitudes, behaviour and behaviour change and reflect on the relationship between them.
  • Describe biopsychosocial paradigm in understanding the role of behaviour in aetiology of illness and its treatment.
  • Evaluate how psychological interventions can improve diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of physical health and illness.
  • Construct the linkage between different psychological factors (perception, cognition, social) present in medical practice and reduction of medical errors.
  • Analyse and describe empirical research relating to current issues in health and medical psychology.
  • Evaluate how research on psychology of health from a wide range of research fields and methods can inform real-world issues and healthcare practice.

Module content

  • Health beliefs, behaviour and behaviour change
  • Medical image interpretation and reducing medical errors
  • Psychology throughout the course of illness (e.g., depression in cancer patients and chemo brain)
  • Pain management and placebo effects
  • Rehabilitation for neurological disorders (e.g., brain Injury, stroke, dementia, aphasias, epilepsy)
  • Public and community-level interventions for promoting health and adherence to medical treatment

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.

Indicative reading

None specified.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.