Psychology in family practice: Fulfilling a vital need

Abstract

In the context of a busy family practise, medical practitioners often have little time to attend to the psychosocial concerns of patients. Nevertheless, psychological and behavioural factors play an important role in the trajectory of health problems. Health Psychology, a relatively new profession in South Africa, addresses the relationship between behaviour and health. This emerging field is concerned with the emotional problems associated with poor health, behavioural risk factors that contribute to the onset, exacerbation and maintenance of health problems, and co-morbid psychiatric conditions commonly seen in primary care settings. Among the various interventions dispensed by health psychologists are psychological interventions to manage chronic pain, counseling to help cancer patients manage distress or mood turbulence, self-care regimens for adolescents diagnosed with diabetes, and interventions to help AIDS patients manage stress. The role of the health psychologist is becoming increasingly important as part of a holistic approach to meeting the needs of patients in family practice settings.