The Power of Belief

Psychosocial influence on illness, disability and medicine

Edited by Peter W. Halligan and Mansel Aylward

A collection of distinguished scientists and clinicians examine how beliefs can affect not only the patient, in terms of their eventual recovery from illness, but also the way in which medical professionals view and treat illness
This book provides an opportunity to probe deeper into the nature of beliefs and in particular highlights recent theoretical and clinical reports illustrating the significant role that beliefs play in defining illness, compliance with treatment and vocational rehabilitation
At a time when public trust in doctors and science is diminishing, a better understanding of patients' and doctors' beliefs regarding illness is clearly a priority for research in clinical practice

The Power of Belief

Psychosocial influence on illness, disability and medicine

Edited by Peter W. Halligan and Mansel Aylward

Description

Over the past two decades, a widening gulf has emerged between illness presentation and the adequacy of traditional biomedical explanations. Currently, the UK is experiencing an "epidemic of common health problems" among people in receipt of State incapacity benefits and those who consult their general practitioners. Most do not demonstrate a recognisable pathological or organic basis which would account for the subjective complaints they report. As a result, the causes of many illnesses remain a mystery for both patient and physician, with the result that increasing numbers of people are opting for alternative or complementary medicines. To bridge this gap between illness and its explanation, without abandoning the clear benefits of the biomedical approach, many healthcare professionals have begun to consider a biopsychosocial approach. Central to this approach is the belief that illness is not just the result of discrete pathological processes but involves and can be meaningfully explained in terms of personal, psychological and socio-cultural factors.

In particular, the beliefs held by patients about their health are considered central to the way they behave and respond to treatment. However, such beliefs are not specific to patients only - they can greatly influence the behaviour and reasoning of health professionals as well. Psychosocial influences such as beliefs are also relevant when considering society's views regarding the aetiology of illness, recovery and potential for treatment. At a time when public trust in doctors and science is undoubtedly diminishing, a better understanding of patients' beliefs is clearly a priority for clinical practice and research.

The Power of Belief brings together a range of experts from neuroscience, rehabilitation and disability medicine and provides a unique account of the role and influence that belief plays in illness manifestation, medical training, promising biopsychosocial interventions and society at large.

The Power of Belief

Psychosocial influence on illness, disability and medicine

Edited by Peter W. Halligan and Mansel Aylward

1:Introduction - the relevance of belief for understanding and managing illness behaviour, Peter W. Halligan & Mansel Aylward
Conceptual and psychological perspectives
Beliefs: explaining illness and shaping experience, Peter W. Halligan
2:A cognitive neuroscience of belief, Vaughan Bell, Peter W. Halligan & Hadyn D. Ellis
3:Biased beliefs and the subjective validation effect, David F. Marks
4:The cognitive anthropology of belief, Quinton Deeley
5:Placebo: the role of expectancies in the generation and alleviation of illness, Irving Kirsch
Clinical and occupational perspectives
Beliefs: clinical and vocational interventions; tackling psychological and social determinants of illness and disability, Mansel Aylward
6:Public and medical beliefs about mental disorders and their treatment, Anthony F. Jorm & Kathleen M. Griffiths
7:Beliefs and adherence to treatment: the challenge for research and clinical practice, Robert Horne
8:Explaining unexplained symptoms: the role of beliefs in clinical management, Peter Salmon
9:Beliefs and obstacles to recovery in low back pain, A. Kim Burton, Gordon Waddell & Chris J. Main
10:Belief in rehabilitation, the hidden power for change, Derick T. Wade
11:Managing disability in public policy initiatives, Rachelle Buchbinder
12:Clinician bias in diagnosis and treatment, Duncan B. Double
13:Volition and psychosocial factors in illness behaviour, Robert Ferrari, Oliver Kwan & Jon Friel

The Power of Belief

Psychosocial influence on illness, disability and medicine

Edited by Peter W. Halligan and Mansel Aylward

Author Information

Edited by Peter W. Halligan, School of Psychology, University of Wales at Cardiff, UK, and Mansel Aylward, UnumProvident Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research, University of Wales at Cardiff, UK

Contributors:

Mansel Aylward, UnumProvident Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research, Cardiff University, UK; Vaughan Bell, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Rachelle Buchbinder, Cabrini Medical Centre, Malvern, Australia; A. Kim Burton, Spinal Research Unit, University of Huddersfield, UK; Quinton Deeley, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK; Duncan B. Double, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK; Hadyn D. Ellis, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Robert Ferrari, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Canada; Jon Friel, Edmonton, Canada; Kathleen M. Griffiths, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Peter W. Halligan, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Robert Horne, Centre for Health Care Research, University of Brighton, UK; Anthony F. Jorm, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Irving Kirsch, Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK; Oliver Kwan, Edmonton, Canada; Chris J. Main, Unit for Chronic Disease Epidemiology, University of Manchester, UK; David F. Marks, Department of Psychology, City University, London, UK; Peter Salmon, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK; Gordon Waddell, Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research, University of Cardiff, UK; Derick T. Wade, The Oxford Centre for Enablement, Oxford, UK