SAMPLING OF EMPIRICALLY SUPPORTED PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FROM HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY - SMOKING, CHRONIC PAIN, CANCER, AND BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Interventions in health psychology and behavioral medicine represent a n integral area of research for the development of psychological thera pies to enhance health behaviors, manage symptoms and sequelae of dise ase, treat psychological symptoms and disorders, prolong survival in t he face of a life-threatening illness, and improve quality of life. A sampling of interventions in health psychology and behavioral medicine is offered that meet the criteria for empirically supported treatment s for smoking cessation, chronic pain, cancer, and bulimia nervosa. Ev idence for empirically supported treatments is identified, along with promising interventions that do not yet meet the criteria as outlined by D. L. Chambless and S. D. Hollon (1998). Evidence for the effective ness and clinical significance of these interventions is reviewed, and issues in this area of research are outlined.