Psychologie en paramedische zorg: raakvlakken en mogelijkheden tot uitwisseling.

Research on health and behavior is mainly concerned with the interface between psychology and medicine. Although highly appropriate, research on psychology and paramedical care is extremely limited. The goal of the present paper is to describe the interface between psychology and paramedical care (i.e. physical-, occupational-, speech-, exercise therapy and podiatry). Three main areas in this interface are identified: a) to a certain extent, psychology and paramedical care are concerned with the same kind of disorders; b) frequently, disorders are caused or maintained by the interaction of factors typically belonging to the psychological or paramedical domain, respectively; and c) because paramedical and psychological interventions frequently require patients to change their behaviour, exchange ot theories on and methods for behavioural change is highly relevant. Each of these areas is described and an example of relevant research is given. It is argued that research on the interface between psychology and paramedical care should be given a high priority. (aut. ref.)