Principles and Concepts of Behavioral Medicine

Editor-in-chief Edwin Fisher is Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently President of the Society for Behavioral Medicine and Treasurer of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Fisher’s areas of special interest and expertise include health behavior/health psychology; smoking and smoking cessation; chronic disease management; prevention and health promotion; community and peer approaches to health promotion; and social support in health and well-being.

“The intended audience includes ‘behavioral medicine specialists, health psychologists, public health professionals and policymakers, as well as physicians, nurses, social workers and those in many other fields of health practice around the world.’ … The book embraces a ‘life course framework’ for learning how social and behavioral factors make a difference in people's lives.” (Gary B Kaniuk, Doody's Book Reviews, June 07, 2019)

• Part 1: Fundamental Sciences of Behavioral Medicine.- Genetics and Behavior.- Physiological and psychophysiological processes central to health.- The psychology of learning, cognition and memory related to health.- Economics and individual behavior and choice.- Social and cultural influences on behaviors of individuals and groups.- Policies of governments, business entities, and organizations – how they are formulated and how they are changed.- International trade and health behavior.- Part 2: The Interfaces of Behavior and Health.- Risky behaviors – smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity.- Psychophysiological influences and stress.- Role of "self management" in health care (includes adherence).- Emotions, qualify of life, health, and illness.-  Lifespan perspectives on interfaces of behavior and health.- Part 3: Approaches to Changing Behavior Related to Health.- Health education.- Family and social approaches.- Community approaches.- Social marketing.- Policy change and health.- Part 4: Interventions to Prevent Health Problems.- Prevention of Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Related Diseases.- Prevention of Arthritis, Asthma, and Related Diseases.- Prevention of Cancer.- Prevention of HIV/AIDS.- Prevention of Neurological Diseases: Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease.- Prevention of Health Problems of Violence and Injury.- Part 5: Interventions to Manage Diseases.- Management of Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Related Diseases.- Management of Arthritis, Asthma, and Related Diseases.- Management of Cancer.- Management of HIV/AIDS.- Management of Neurological Diseases: Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease.- Management of Health Problems of Violence, Injury.- Part 6: Interventions to Enhance Quality of Life.- Psychological interventions in health and disease.- Social support interventions.-  End-of-life care.- Part 7: Broader Perspectives.- Who does behavioral medicine – training and dissemination.- Economic prosperity, disparities, health and behavioral medicine.- Globalization, health, and behavioral medicine.- Spirituality and behavioral medicine.- Values and behavioral medicine.- Impacts of emerging fundamental science on health, behavior and their interaction