How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?

Introduction Health-related behavior correlates in critical ways with the current epidemic of chronic diseases. Modifiable behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease. Despite there are well-identified behaviors, efforts at behavior change are clinically-challenging and frequently ineffective....

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Main Authors: R. Valido, F. Caldas, P. Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-04-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821017302/type/journal_article
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author R. Valido
F. Caldas
P. Ferreira
author_facet R. Valido
F. Caldas
P. Ferreira
author_sort R. Valido
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Health-related behavior correlates in critical ways with the current epidemic of chronic diseases. Modifiable behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease. Despite there are well-identified behaviors, efforts at behavior change are clinically-challenging and frequently ineffective. Objectives We aim to establish how the current evidence and latest neuroscientific knowledge about behavioral change allow the most reliable assessment of patients with refractory health-related behaviors that negatively impact health outcomes. Methods We performed a literature review using Pubmed databases and UpToDate. The search included “behavioral change” and “health-related behavioral change”[MeSH Terms]. Results Habitual behavior consists of behavioral patterns operating below conscious awareness and acquired through context-dependent repetition. Behavioral change is a complex multi-level field of intervention. The Health Belief Model allows a careful description of the patient’s perceived vulnerability, perceived disease severity, self-efficacy, and change motivation. The identification of social variables is critical since they correlated with poor health outcomes, particularly in chronic diseases. Temperament and character traits can have a strong influence on the difficulty of changing habitual behavior. Psychopathology, if present, must be addressed because it can be a notable factor of behavior instability and correlates negatively to health outcomes. Assertive and efficient communication skills in the clinical context are imperative. Motivational interviewing skills can allow effective behavioral change. Conclusions Interventions addressing behavior change require careful, thoughtful work that leads to a deep understanding of the nature of what motivates people. Intervention based strategies focused on behavioral change must undergo further investigation in the future. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-fdead3bbf5f1450880881894699615632023-11-17T05:06:40ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S651S65210.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1730How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?R. Valido0F. Caldas1P. Ferreira2Psychiatry, Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Porto, PortugalInternamento C, Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Porto, PortugalInternamento C, Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Porto, Portugal Introduction Health-related behavior correlates in critical ways with the current epidemic of chronic diseases. Modifiable behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease. Despite there are well-identified behaviors, efforts at behavior change are clinically-challenging and frequently ineffective. Objectives We aim to establish how the current evidence and latest neuroscientific knowledge about behavioral change allow the most reliable assessment of patients with refractory health-related behaviors that negatively impact health outcomes. Methods We performed a literature review using Pubmed databases and UpToDate. The search included “behavioral change” and “health-related behavioral change”[MeSH Terms]. Results Habitual behavior consists of behavioral patterns operating below conscious awareness and acquired through context-dependent repetition. Behavioral change is a complex multi-level field of intervention. The Health Belief Model allows a careful description of the patient’s perceived vulnerability, perceived disease severity, self-efficacy, and change motivation. The identification of social variables is critical since they correlated with poor health outcomes, particularly in chronic diseases. Temperament and character traits can have a strong influence on the difficulty of changing habitual behavior. Psychopathology, if present, must be addressed because it can be a notable factor of behavior instability and correlates negatively to health outcomes. Assertive and efficient communication skills in the clinical context are imperative. Motivational interviewing skills can allow effective behavioral change. Conclusions Interventions addressing behavior change require careful, thoughtful work that leads to a deep understanding of the nature of what motivates people. Intervention based strategies focused on behavioral change must undergo further investigation in the future. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821017302/type/journal_articlebehavioral changebehaviorhabitual behavior
spellingShingle R. Valido
F. Caldas
P. Ferreira
How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
European Psychiatry
behavioral change
behavior
habitual behavior
title How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
title_full How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
title_fullStr How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
title_full_unstemmed How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
title_short How to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior?
title_sort how to deal with refractory risk factors that depend on behavior
topic behavioral change
behavior
habitual behavior
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821017302/type/journal_article
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