Behavioral medicine refers to the medical discipline that focuses on the integration of knowledge in biological, behavioral, and social sciences relevant to the understanding of physical health and diseases. It is concerned with the study, prevention, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation of medical and psychosomatic disorders as well as unwanted behavior, patterns of behavior, or habits.
Questions and discussions as to the real scope and definition of behavioral medicine exist. Some would say that this field is just an evolution from the psychosomatic medicine discipline given the overlaps and several points of comparison. Likewise, the term "behavioral medicine" is usually associated or mistakenly thought of as synonymous to "health psychology." The prominent difference is that health psychology is concerned with broader issues (involving the entire health care or treatment system) while behavioral medicine is specifically concerned with direct patient evaluation and treatment.
This category presents references, resources, and sources of information and updates on the field of behavioral medicine. Also listed are clinics, practitioners, journals, and organizations.