Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number ioral medicine" was developed and shaped into the one source of morbidity and mortality in our coun following definition: try. Despite a 35% reduction since 1964, these Behavioral medicine is the interdisciplinary field con diseases, particularly coronary heart disease cerned with the development and integration of behav (CHD), claim nearly 1,000,000 lives each year in ioral and biomedical science knowledge and techniques the United States (Havlik & Feinleib, 1979). relevant to the understanding of health and illness and The Framingham study, among others, has iden the application of this knowledge and these techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. tified three major risk factors implicated in the de (Schwartz & Weiss, 1978) velopment of CHD: smoking, elevated serum cho lesterol, and high blood pressure (Castelli et at., This concept of "biobehavioral" collaboration 1986). Given that these factors account for less challenged scientists and clinicians of many disci than 50% of the variance associated with CHD plines to consider how they might more effectively (Jenkins, 1976), it has become obvious that addi develop diagnostic, treatment, and prevention tional risk factors must be identified if further pro strategies by merging their perspectives to address gress is to be made in disease prevention and simultaneously, among others, behavioral, psy control.

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number ioral medicine" was developed and shaped into the one source of morbidity and mortality in our coun­ following definition: try. Despite a 35% reduction since 1964, these Behavioral medicine is the interdisciplinary field con­ diseases, particularly coronary heart disease cerned with the development and integration of behav­ (CHD), claim nearly 1,000,000 lives each year in ioral and biomedical science knowledge and techniques the United States (Havlik & Feinleib, 1979). relevant to the understanding of health and illness and The Framingham study, among others, has iden­ the application of this knowledge and these techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. tified three major risk factors implicated in the de­ (Schwartz & Weiss, 1978) velopment of CHD: smoking, elevated serum cho­ lesterol, and high blood pressure (Castelli et at., This concept of "biobehavioral" collaboration 1986). Given that these factors account for less challenged scientists and clinicians of many disci­ than 50% of the variance associated with CHD plines to consider how they might more effectively (Jenkins, 1976), it has become obvious that addi­ develop diagnostic, treatment, and prevention tional risk factors must be identified if further pro­ strategies by merging their perspectives to address gress is to be made in disease prevention and simultaneously, among others, behavioral, psy­ control.

Leading researchers examine how behavior genetics provides crucial insights into genetic and environmental influences in the development of biobehavioral disorders. These influences are illustrated by using the examples of cardiovascular disease, obesity and eating disorders, alcohol use and abuse, and smoking behavior. Contributors discuss the relevance of molecular genetic approaches and twin and family designs to the complex field of behavior medicine research.

How can the influence of behavioral factors on health and well-being be measured? Research over the past two decades has shown that psychological factors and lifestyle have been found to be relevant to the onset and course of disease. In addition, these factors codetermine how patients and those in their social environment cope with illness and what their quality of life is. Assessment in Behavioral Medicine gives the reader a greater understanding of the influence of behavioral factors on somatic health. There is a continuing need for research to better our understanding of the processes that play a crucial role in the influence of psychosocial factors on health. However, the proliferation of tools for assessing psychosocial and psychobiological factors makes it difficult to make an optimal choice of measurement. This volume aims to advance the state of measurement in the multidisciplinary fields of behavioral medicine and health psychology by bringing together state-of-the-art theory and research on assessment issues in this area. It provides the reader with an insight into the different kinds of measures that are available, along with practical guidelines for choosing the appropriate tools and designs to meet specific research questions. Assessment in Behavioral Medicine is a unique resource for students, researchers, clinicians and teachers who are involved in education, research or clinical work in which measuring behavioral and psychosocial factors is a crucial activity.

Designed to serve as a primary reference source for researchers and students interested in expanding their research to consider a biopsychosocial approach, this book provides a thorough, state-of-the-art, and user-friendly coverage of basic techniques for measurement of physiological variables in health psychology research.

This book is an articulate, concise, contemporary introduction to the study of important variables underlying cardiovascular reactivity. Its strength is in the combination of a scholarly but nonpedantic approach to cardiovascular psychophysiology and a solid understanding of be havioral medicine approaches to the study of hypertension. The topics covered are central to the study of relationships between behavior and cardiovascular reactivity; the list of suggested readings at the end of each chapter provides excellent guidance for more detailed study of specific issues. It has now been more than a dozen years since Plenum Press published Paul Obrist's seminal monograph Cardiovascular Psycho physiology. The volume had a major impact in relating cardiovascular regulation to behaving individuals and in developing thoughtful hy potheses concerning such factors as they might pertain to hypertension. The impact of that work extended across scientific disciplines as well as aross continents. At the time the Obrist book was published, a young psychologist, J. Rick Turner, was completing his Ph. D. thesis in psychol ogy at the University of Birmingham, England, on heart rate reactions to psychological challenge. After continued collaboration for the next several years with his former Ph. D. mentor, Douglas Carroll, Turner joined the Obrist laboratory at the University of North Carolina. Al though Obrist unfortunately died during Turner's tenure in the labora tory, collaboration continued with Kathleen Light and Andrew Sher wood. The enlightened legacy of the North Carolina laboratory can clearly be seen in this text.

Measuring Stress is the definitive resource for health and social scientists interested in assessing stress in humans. With contributions from leading experts, this work provides for the first time a unified conceptual overview of the intricate relationship between stress and a variety of disorders. Its interdisciplinary approach to the selection of appropriate environmental, psychological, and biological measures includes comprehensive evaluations and practical advice regarding a wide range of measurement approaches. For environmental stress, techniques such as checklists and interviews that measure life event, daily event, and chronic stress are discussed. An analysis of psychological measurements includes methods for assessing stress appraisal and affective response. Neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune measures are examined as important biological stress assessments. Contributors also uncover the conceptual underpinnings of each approach as well as the various costs and benefits of available assessment techniques. Reflecting the diversity of theoretical conceptions of stress, Measuring Stress masterfully provides integrative, incisive guidelines that will prove invaluable to students, clinicians, and researchers in health and social psychology, medicine, nursing, epidemiology, sociology, and psychiatry.