Behavioral Medicine in China: History, Current Status, and Future Development

• Published in: International journal of behavioral medicine Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 574 - 579
• Main Authors: Bai, Bo, Ji, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.08.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Medicine - methods; Behavioral Medicine - trends; China; Family Medicine; General Practice; Health Promotion - methods; Health Psychology; History of medicine; Humans; Life Style; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Research - organization & administration; Theory; China; Translational research; History; Theory; China; Behavioral medicine
• ISSN: 1070-5503; 1532-7558; 1532-7558
• DOI: 10.1007/s12529-013-9331-0

Background Behavioral medicine in China has developed quickly in the last three decades. Purpose We briefly summarized the history, the main scope and achievements, and the future development of behavioral medicine in China. Method We did a literature search and discussed with senior scholars in behavioral medicine in China. Results The concept and main scope of behavioral medicine in China have been developed largely in accordance with the international perspective. Research in behavioral medicine in China significantly contributed to the better understanding of the relationship between various health behavioral factors and psychosomatic disorders and possible mechanisms of this relationship. The following aspects will be the main areas to be further developed in behavioral medicine in China: (1) Basic theories of behavioral medicine and theoretical mechanisms of higher nervous activities in human behavior regulation. (2) Etiology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of common diseases that are closely related to human lifestyle behaviors. (3) Assessment criteria for unhealthy and disease-related behaviors. (4) Behavioral therapy of psychosomatic disorders, and rehabilitation technologies of disability. (5) Application of major findings from research of behavioral medical science in clinical practice and in health promotion of the whole society. Conclusion Behavioral medicine in China, as a multidisciplinary subject, plays a relevant role in preventing behavior-related psychosomatic diseases and in promoting health of the public.