Training in medical psychology: A survey of graduate and internship training programs.

Abstract

American Psychological Association-approved doctoral and internship programs in clinical and counseling psychology were surveyed regarding training opportunities in medical psychology. A total of 42 graduate and 65 internship programs responded. Survey resultsindicated that the majority ofboth types of programs offered didactic and experiential training, including diagnostic and therapeutic activities with a wide variety of medical/ surgical patients. There appears to be a sufficient number of faculty psychologists identified with special interest and/or expertise in this area, as well as sufficient interest among training directors and trainees, to adequately prepare new psychologists for employment in the expanding job market of medical centers and other types of medical settings.

Role of psychologists in multidisciplinary pain clinics: A national survey.

“…At this time, minimal qualifications or guidelines for adequate preparation have not yet been established (Degood, 1979). Thus training in a traditional graduate psychology program may be inadequate for the type or variety of roles assumed in a pain center (Gentry, Street, Masur, & Asken, 1981; Grezesiak, 1979; Olbrisch & Sechrist, 1979). Because of the specific training needs of psychologists in behavioral medicine, which may not be provided in the traditional psychology doctoral programs, there have in fact been some efforts in designing a specialized program for health psychologists (Stone, 1979).…”

Extending Clinical Practice to Medicine

“…Clinical Psychology professional growth escalated with its empirically developed assessment and treatment interventions. The initial invitations in Medicine came to Psychologists from departments of Psychiatry [1][2][3]. The recognition of the knowledge competencies (i.e., Brain & Behavior, Social Interactions, Learning, Memory, Perception) fundamental to the training of doctoral level Clinical Psychologists expanded to the Veteran's Administration service and medical specialties of Neurology and Physical Medicine [4].…”

Postdoctoral education and training for clinical service providers in health psychology.

“…Only 28% of these programs reported prevention (health promotion) emphases as offerings. Additionally, results of a survey of APA-approved clinical psychology predoctoral internships suggested that most trainees in clinical psychology also are exposed to medical psychology (Gentry, Street, Masur, & Asken, 1981).…”