Abstract
Thousands of psychologists teach in U.S. medical schools, and these psychologists are responsible for ensuring that the medical students they train are aware of the ways in which research findings from the behavioral and social sciences can enhance the practice of medicine. In addition, it is imperative that physicians appreciate the limits of their own ability to treat psychological and psychiatric problems and know when to refer to mental health professionals. This brief article is based on a talk given by the author at the 2007 American Psychological Association (APA) convention after receiving the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC) Ivan Mensh Award for Distinguished Achievement in Teaching. The paper draws on the personal experiences of the author after three decades spent teaching behavioral science to medical students, and it introduces readers to the reasoning behind many of the decisions made in planning and developing each of the author’s four editions of the medical school text Behavior and Medicine.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carr, J. E. (2005). Prescription for the relief of curriculum constipation [Review of the book Improving medical education: Enhancing the behavioral and social science and content of medical school curricula]. PsycCRITIQUES—Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 50 (2), Retrieved March 19, 2008 from the PsycCRITIQUES database.
Daschle, T. (2006). Foreword. In D. Wedding & M. L. Stuber (Eds.), Behavior and medicine (4th ed.). Ashland, OH: Hogrefe & Huber.
Institute of Medicine. (2004). Improving medical education: Enhancing the behavioral and social science content of medical school curricula. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Kraut, A. G. (2004). The importance of basic behavioral science to health. The Observer, 17, 5–7.
Sahler, O. J. Z., & Carr, J. E. (Eds.). (2007). The behavioral sciences and health care (2nd ed.). Ashland, OH: Hogrefe & Huber.
Wedding, D., Boyd, M. A., & Niemiec, R. M. (2005). Movies and mental illness: Using films to understand psychopathology. Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber.
Wedding, D., & Niemiec, R. M. (2008). Positive psychology at the movies: Using films to build virtues and character strengths. Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber.
Wedding, D., & Stuber, M. L. (Eds.). (2006). Behavior and medicine (4th ed.). Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is based on a talk given by the author at the 2007 American Psychological Association (APA) convention after receiving the APAHC Ivan Mensh Award for Distinguished Achievement in Teaching.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wedding, D. Innovative Methods for Making Behavioral Science Relevant to Medical Education. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 15, 89–91 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-008-9107-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-008-9107-x