What is the Salary of a Medical Psychologist?

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Medical psychology is a relatively new, but rapidly growing field. As our knowledge of psychology evolves, so does our awareness of the medical basis for many abnormal behaviors. Conversely, many medical problems have a psychological basis, or become chronic due to psychological conditions. Examples of medical psychology interventions include asthma, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiac conditions, spinal injuries, brain injuries, chronic pain and headaches, as well as addictive illnesses.

The medical psychologist salary is comparable to a clinical psychologist as the approach encompasses the interaction between physical, psychological and social factors in both the prevention and management of diseases. The medical psychologist is trained at the post- doctoral level, utilizing the knowledge and skills of clinical psychology, health psychology, behavioral medicine, psycho-pharmacology and basic science.

Whole Body and Mind

Our understanding of the mind is far from complete. The study of the mind engages our mental thought processes and our consciousness. We are able to map out the brain and discern activity through electrical impulses, identify the parts related to reading, motor and sensory speech, discern the physical aspects of brain neurons, but this concerns the structure of the mind. What psychologists seek to answer is how the mind interacts with the physical body, and which of the two is really in charge.

Early attempts to understand the psychology of the mind focused on attempts to correct abnormal behaviors through conditioning, reinforcement and response mechanisms. It separated behaviors into personality types. It evolved to include the variables of environment, cultural and social influences, degree of nurturing and stages of normal development. As our knowledge of the brain increased, we began to identify physical causes for various disorders, such as nutritional imbalances, chemical interferences, blockages in the neural pathways and brain tumors.

Medical psychology bridges the debate by incorporating the physical aspects of dysfunctions with the psychological implications. Asthma, gastrointestinal diseases and cardiac conditions all have physical symptoms and can be treated medications. They can also have a psychological source; stress, anxiety, hypertension, fatigue can all trigger the symptoms and produce the consequences of a physical illness.

The Future of Psychology

The medical psychologist salary averages between $38,000 and $110,000 a year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The medical psychologist is qualified as a psychotherapist, helping patients cope with the emotional aspects of chronic illnesses. Medical psychologists also teach pain management to their patients, helping them find ways to minimize the physical effects of treatments. Their licensing enables them to prescribe psychotropic medications for patients with mental issues or disorders. They also administer behavioral therapy by implementing behavioral interventions and stress reduction techniques designed to have a positive effect on the body’s immune system.

The medical psychologist could become the future of psychology and the norm for treatment of brain disorders. As they find positions in hospitals, clinics, medical and mental health care facilities, the demand for medical psychologists grows, with an estimate that the medical psychologist salary could exceed $90,000 a year.

Some medical psychologists have devoted their time purely to research, studying the ways that mind and body interact and their significance on good physical and mental health. As our awareness of how our minds work to govern our body functions, and how our physical health affects our mental state, the fields of psychology and medicine move closer together, with the singular goal of healthy bodies with healthy minds.