Artikel
Teaching biopsychosocial aspects of high altitude medicine at the Medical University of Graz
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 25. April 2012 |
---|
Gliederung
Poster
The biopsychosocial model of illness is regarded as the most significant, important, and compact theory to describe the relationship between body and mind [1]. The model is now essentially a theory of the unity of body and mind and offers a fundamental extension of the biomedical model of medicine, in which health and illness are no longer conceived as dichotomous separated entities [http://www.bpsmed.net]. There are studies demonstrating the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on the cardiovascular system, the autonomic nervous system – especially the sympathetic activity, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate variability, arterial baroreflex, etc. [2], [3].
Knowledge of psycho-physiology of high-altitude adaptation and of pathophysiology of maladaptation is taught in the course “Mountain Medicine” at the Medical University of Graz. In order to emphasize the importance of a multiprofessional and multidimensional biopsychosocial education, experts of different areas of medicine contribute to this course. In order to provide a broad education this course deals with the complex interactions and the impact of environmental factors, such as altitude and cardiopulmonary exercise, on the function of blood, kidney and brain as well as on the endocrine, immune, respiratory and cardio-circulatory system.
Methods like lectures (7.5 double units), multimedia presentations, case discussions, opportunity of writing a diploma thesis or dissertation; participation in current scientific projects, clinical and field studies are utilized in order to provide a broad and multidimensional education of high altitude medicine with regard of the biopsychosocial model.
References
- 1.
- Egger JW. Das biopsychosoziale Krankheitsmodell - Grundzüge eines wissenschaftlich begründeten ganzheitlichen Verständnisses von Krankheit. Psychol Med. 2005;16:3-12.
- 2.
- Egger JW. Grundlagen der „Psychosomatik“ - Zur Anwendung des biopsychosozialen Krankheitsmodells in der Praxis. Psychol Med. 2008;19:12-22.
- 3.
- Hainsworth R, Drinkhill MJ, Rivera-Chira M. The autonomic nervous system at high altitude. Clin Auton Res. 2007;17(1):13-19. DOI: 10.1007/s10286-006-0395-7