Psychological health is an important component of overall wellness. It is a complex field of study that can be difficult to comprehend, but it is an important part of a healthy life.
Positive psychological health refers to a variety of attributes that promote a sense of purpose and well-being in life. These attributes include optimism, gratitude, and life satisfaction. People who have these attributes are likely to experience fewer cardiovascular events and lower mortality rates.
Negative psychological health refers to a set of attributes that contribute to a person’s risk of CVD. The study of this area is a bit more complicated than those examining positive psychological health, as many studies are observational. In addition, they tend to rely on self-reported exposures to potentially harmful factors. Consequently, a number of studies are confounded and cannot establish causal associations.
However, the overall body of current data is consistent with the hypothesis that there is a link between positive and negative psychological health and cardiovascular health. Multiple plausible biological mechanisms have been suggested to support this relationship. While the exact mechanisms are not known, a number of studies have adjusted for a wide range of possible confounders.
As with other forms of health research, the methodological challenges involved in studying psychological health are significant. Although there is a large and growing body of evidence linking psychological health to various physical illnesses, there is still a need for more study. This is because, although there is strong evidence that certain psychological factors may contribute to cardiovascular risk, there is little evidence to indicate which psychological factors are associated with which physical illnesses.
Behavioral health, or the effects of behavior on physical health, is another important area of study. Studies of this topic focus on how the effects of a person’s behaviors and perceptions affect their physical health. For example, studies have investigated the link between a person’s emotional distress and their physical health.
There are also several other aspects of psychological health to consider. Many of the studies analyzed a variety of factors, such as life stress, negative emotions, and perceived stress. Some studies examined whether a person’s mental health status changed over time. Several studies used carefully adjudicated events, and several other studies used objective measures of CVD.
Currently, there is no universal definition of positive and negative psychological health. A number of professional organizations, including the World Health Organization, are promoting evidence-based practice in this area. The term “health psychology” is sometimes used interchangeably with “behavioral medicine.” Both fields share a focus on a person’s mind-heart-body connection. But, while health psychology involves a wide range of psychological and behavioral factors, behavioral medicine has a more narrow focus on the psychological and physiological aspects of health.
Psychiatric treatment is available to treat a number of mental disorders. Depending on the individual, a therapist might use a number of different approaches, including psychotherapy, medications, and talk therapy. They can also support individuals in making a variety of life changes.