Health psychology I: Introduction

The course deals with a wide range of aspects of health psychology that form the basis for in-depth understanding of health and ill health. A biopsychosocial perspective is taken by emphasizing the interplay between biological, psychological and social factors and its consequences for health. Examples of areas that will be included in the course are health-related sustainable development, epigenetics, organ systems, public diseases, the concept of symptoms, functional syndromes, psychosomatics, illness perception, stress, sleep disturbance, pain and health-enhancing factors. In addition to theoretical elements, practice is given in measuring stress-related responses. The course also contains elements in current research and developmental work.