Last Lecture: Behavior health interventions

• Biopsychosocial model


  The biosocial model encompasses psychological, social, and biological aspects with health being in the center of it. Treatment will be affected by all these aspects. Focuses on mental health as just as important as physical
• Biopsychosocial model


  • Biological: epigenetics, physical health, disease.
  • Psychological: mental and emotional wellness that relates to behavior
  • Social: interpersonal factors, social interactions such as community activities, family circumstances, etc.
• Biomedical model


  • Says you are healthy when you don't have a disease. Only looks at biological processes.
  • Disease is always explained as abnormal biological processes that is treated with medicine or surgical intervention
• Teachable moments


  Events in which behavior changes or becomes more salient due to health concerns
• Where teachable moments can occur

  • Office visits
  • Diagnosis of chronic medical condition
  • Worry about a loved ones health
• SMART Goals


  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Time-limited
• SMART Goal - Specific

  goals should be clear and well defined.

  Ex. “I want to begin an exercise plan.”
• SMART Goal - Measurable

  goals should be quantifiable, to allow reinforcement, and track progress

  • ex. I want to exercise 30 minutes 3x per week
• SMART Goal - Attainable


  • breaking big goals into smaller ones, able to do it in current ability.
  • ex. want to run a marathon? sign up for a couch-to-5k program
• SMART Goal - Realistic


  • I want to incorporate movement in my everyday routine
  • Focusing on how you will ACTUALLY achieve a goal rather than what "could have been done"
• SMART Goal - Time-limited


  • I want to be consistent with going to the gym for a month
  • looking to achieve a goal progressively to receive reinforcement, set goals in a shorter time to keep motivation consistent/increase
• Benefits of SMART goals


  • Increase likelihood of reaching a goal
  • Anticipate and plan for barriers
  • Reinforce continued success by setting progressive goals
  • Set goals for process and progress rather than outcome
• Disability spiral


  Negative cycle where an individual's beliefs and perception leads to a decline of their overall wellbeing and functioning
• Disability spiraland how it relates to cognitive therapy

  Relates to cognitive therapy by challenging negative/unwanted thoughts or emotions
• Goals of behavioral health interventions

  • Looking at things that can lead to illness down the line: sleep, physical activity, social connections
  • Managing chronic illnesses: when having a chronic illness it can impact every aspect of a person's life
• Behavioral health interventionists understand that health is not merely the absence of illness, but rather a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
• Steps of problem solving

  1. Define the problem clearly

  2. State the problem in terms that are clear and achievable

  3. Generate a wide range of responses

  4. Evaluate pros/cons of each response

  5. Rank order of potential responses

  6. Select and implement response
• How a therapist can promote treatment adherence

  • Adopt investigator mentality - goal is to learn more about the patient, don't make them feel worse, long term behavior makes them feel shame
  • Express an interest in helping - "I'm interested as to why you're feeling this way"
• Steps of activity scheduling

  1. Identify pleasurable/valued activities

  2. Plan a specific time for that activity

  3. Anticipate problem-solving barriers

  4. Monitor mood before and after
• Why activity scheduling is important for people with chronic illness

  • Chronic illness can interfere with a patient's ability to engage in pleasurable or valued activities, decrease engagement, contribute to depression, anxiety, social isolation and lower quality life, difficulties with treatment adherence, and worsening of medical symptoms
• SMART Goal - Specific


  Goals should be clear and well defined