2 Introduction
evaluation of prevention activities intended to assist with
health maintenance and improvement is more cost-ef“cient
and can help reduce the need for high cost health care ser-
vices (Taylor, 1990). Such economic factors have thus
helped to facilitate the acceptance of psychologists in the
health arena.
The future seems bright for continued acceptance of and
opportunities for health psychologists as the “eld has demon-
strated its value through the contributions made in supporting
a biopsychosocial model, as well as with regard to their ap-
plied and clinical implications (e.g., primary, secondary, and
tertiary prevention). Recent reports emanating from the U.S.
Surgeon General•s Of“ce continue to highlight the causal im-
portance of behavioral and psychological factors regarding
the leading causes of mortality in the United States. For exam-
ple, such reports suggest that various behavioral risk factors
(e.g., substance abuse, stress, diet, tobacco use) are among the
most important foci regarding health promotion and disease
prevention (see alsoHealthy People 2000). As such, health
psychologists are in a unique position to conduct research and
develop programs geared to prevent and change unhealthy
habits and behaviors, as well as to promote healthy ones.
However, despite such advances, there is still a tremen-
dous need for work in this area. For example, although an ex-
orbitant amount of money is spent on health care in the
United States, this does not necessarily translate to high-
quality care for most Americans. Comparing mortality and
morbidity rates among ethnic/racial groups reveals vast dif-
ferences. For example, although there has been a general de-
cline in mortality for all groups, overall mortality was 55%
greater for Blacks than for Whites in 1997 (Hoyert,
Kochanek, & Murphy, 1999). There also are signi“cant
health discrepancies relating to socioeconomic status, eth-
nic/racial status, and even gender (e.g., National Center for
Health Statistics, 1999; Rodin & Ickovics, 1990).
As such, there is a continuing need for health psychology
efforts, both research and clinical, to expand in scope. Not
only do we need to better understand how biological, psy-
chological, and social factors interact with each other regard-
ing various symptom clusters and medical disorders, but also
we need to improve the manner in which health care delivery
is provided. Research needs to be conducted regarding
the impact of health care policyon health and well-being.
Therefore, lest we begin to wish to sit on our laurels and
believe that our job is nearly done in terms of health psychol-
ogy research and clinical applications, we should remember
the words of John Locke concerning overcon“dence:He that judges without informing himself to the upmost that he is
capable, cannot acquit himself of judging amiss.This current volume should be viewed as but one major stop
on a road that will continue far into the future. However, the
road thus far has been very fruitful, as evidenced by the rich
material contained in the various chapters in this volume.
More importantly, such strides strongly justify continued
travels.REFERENCESBelar, C. D., & Deardorff, W. W. (1995). Clinical health psychology
in medical settings: A practitioner’s guidebook.Washington,
DC: American Psychological Association.
Brannon, L., & Feist, J. (1992).Health Psychology: An introduction
to behavior and health (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub-
lishing.
Healthy People 2000: National health promotion and disease pre-
vention objectives. [DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 91-50212].
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Of“ce.
Hoyert, D. L., Kochanek, K. D., & Murphy, S. L. (1999). Deaths:
Final data for 1997. National Vital Statistics Reports, 47,1...104.
Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & Lombardo, E. R. (2001). Cognitive-
behavior therapy for medically unexplained symptoms. A critical
review of the treatment literature. Behavior Therapy, 32 , 537...
583.
Rodin, J., & Ickovics, J. R. (1990). Women•s health: Review and
research agenda as we approach the 21st century. American
Psychologist, 45 , 1018...1034.
Schwartz, G. (1982). Testing the biopsychosocial model: The ulti-
mate challenge facing behavioral medicine? Journal of Consult-
ing and Clinical Psychology, 50 , 1040...1053.
Shadish, W. R. (1986). Planned critical multiplism: Some elabora-
tions.Behavioral Assessment, 8 , 75...103.
Taylor, S. E. (1990). Health Psychology: The science and the “eld.
American Psychologist, 45 , 40...50.
U.S. Health Care Financing Administration. (1999). National health
expenditures, 1998. Health Care Financing Review, 20 , Publica-
tion 03412.