Biopsychosocial Approach to Health and Health Psychology (VPUPK_426)
About Study Course
Objective
To develop students' understanding of health psychology concepts and the biopsychosocial approach, preparing them to critically evaluate, plan, and model innovative health promotion interventions where classical behavior change models are integrated with modern digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, including data security aspects
Prerequisites
Biological basics of the psyche.
Learning outcomes
1.1. Defines and classifies the basic concepts, objectives and methodological principles of health psychology, demonstrating understanding of the current development trends of the sector.
2. Interpret the relationship between stress and personality factors and health and distinguish between acute and chronic pain management strategies.
3. Conceptualize the biopsychosocial model framework by integrating basic knowledge of psychoneuroimmunology and epigenetics, and illustrate the interaction between personality and stress factors in health processes.
4. Analyse behavioural change theories and argue their use in disease prevention and health promotion.
5. Review the digital health ecosystem and identify the role of AI in the context of personalised psychological interventions.
6. Justifies the importance of health literacy (Health literacy) and its correlation with an individual’s health behavior.
1.1. Use knowledge to characterise the biopsychosocial aspects of specific research/problem/task/situations as well as the main determinants of health behaviour.
2. Evaluate theories and models of health behaviour for characterisation of specific phenomena (e.g. co-esteem, drug use, lifestyle change, preventive testing) and interpretation of health behaviour.
3. Analyses the relationship between different communication styles and health behaviour, as well as stress management strategies and their relationship to health.
4. Justifies the use of behavioural change theories in disease prevention and demonstrates the skills to theoretically design an innovative health promotion intervention model integrating elements of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into it.
1.1. Integrate, distinguish and critically compare clinical, societal, critical, community and occupational health approaches and take the most appropriate approach to addressing a particular health psychology problem.
2. Links health psychology goals and tasks to current health psychology issues/public health issues.
3. Build and plan psychological interventions in healthcare by integrating a biopsychosocial model.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the professional ethics and legal framework of the psychologist by being able to identify data security aspects and ethical challenges related to the use of modern technologies and AI tools in the context of healthcare (in accordance with THE EFPA and Latvian psychologists Code of Ethics).
