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Dekker J, Amitami M, Berman AH, Brown H, Cleal B, Figueiras MJ, Finney Rutten LJ, Fors EA, Griva K, Gu J, Keyworth C, Kleinstäuber M, Lahmann C, Lau JTF, Leplow B, Li L, Malmberg Gavelin H, Mewes R, Mo PKH, Mullan B, Penedo FJ, Prins J, Rodríguez Rodríguez T, Simpson SA, Stauder A, Tuomisto MT, Weiss DJ, Nater UM. Definition and Characteristics of Behavioral Medicine, and Main Tasks and Goals of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine-an International Delphi Study. Int J Behav Med 2021; 28:268-276. [PMID: 32909153 PMCID: PMC8121730 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09928-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past decades, behavioral medicine has attained global recognition. Due to its global reach, a critical need has emerged to consider whether the original definition of behavioral medicine is still valid, comprehensive, and inclusive, and to reconsider the main tasks and goals of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM), as the umbrella organization in the field. The purpose of the present study was to (i) update the definition and scope of behavioral medicine and its defining characteristics; and (ii) develop a proposal on ISBM's main tasks and goals. METHOD Our study used the Delphi method. A core group prepared a discussion paper. An international Delphi panel rated questions and provided comments. The panel intended to reach an a priori defined level of consensus (i.e., 70%). RESULTS The international panel reached consensus on an updated definition and scope of behavioral medicine as a field of research and practice that builds on collaboration among multiple disciplines. These disciplines are concerned with development and application of behavioral and biomedical evidence across the disease continuum in clinical and public health domains. Consensus was reached on a proposal for ISBM's main tasks and goals focused on supporting communication and collaboration across disciplines and participating organizations; stimulating research, education, and practice; and supporting individuals and organizations in the field. CONCLUSION The consensus on definition and scope of behavioral medicine and ISBM's tasks and goals provides a foundational step toward achieving these goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Dekker
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Marie Amitami
- Community-Based Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Anne H Berman
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Stockholm Region, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helen Brown
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bryan Cleal
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria João Figueiras
- Psychology Department, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lila J Finney Rutten
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Egil A Fors
- General Practice Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Konstadina Griva
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Gu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chris Keyworth
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Maria Kleinstäuber
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Claas Lahmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joseph T F Lau
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territory, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bernd Leplow
- Institute for Psychology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Li Li
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hanna Malmberg Gavelin
- Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ricarda Mewes
- Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching, and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Phoenix K H Mo
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territory, Hong Kong, China
| | - Barbara Mullan
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Frank J Penedo
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Judith Prins
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Teresa Rodríguez Rodríguez
- Science and Technology Department, University Hospital "Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima", Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Cienfuegos Medical School, Cienfuegos, Cuba
| | - Sharon A Simpson
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Adrienne Stauder
- Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Martti T Tuomisto
- Faculty of Social Sciences (Psychology), Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Deborah Jones Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Urs M Nater
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
PURPOSE To respond to comments on our proposal for an update of the definition and scope of behavioral medicine. METHODS We identify common themes in the comments and provide a response. RESULTS We discuss the relationship of behavioral medicine to other disciplines and fields, the scope of behavioral medicine, and issues related to the application of behavioral medicine. CONCLUSION Based on the comments of our esteemed colleagues and our reflection on those comments, we now offer the following refined definition and scope of behavioral medicine. 'Behavioral medicine can be defined as the field characterized by the collaboration among multiple disciplines concerned with the development and integration of biomedical and behavioral knowledge relevant to health and disease, and the application of this knowledge to prevention, health promotion, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and care. The scope of behavioral medicine extends from bio-behavioral mechanisms (i.e. the interaction among biomedical, psychological, social, societal, cultural and environmental processes related to health and disease), to clinical diagnosis and intervention, and to public health'. We propose to use this refined definition and scope as the starting point for seeking further input from the ISBM member societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Dekker
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, The Netherlands.
- Jining Medical University, Jining, China.
- Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Adrienne Stauder
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Frank J Penedo
- Departments of Medical Social Sciences, Psychology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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