Anxiety, depression, and difficulty adjusting to medical conditions are just a few of the factors that can complicate recovery for hospitalized patients. This book describes how health psychologists, working with the medical team as consultants, can help determine the causes of such symptoms and provide appropriate treatment and actionable input for doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, and others.

In the ever-evolving US healthcare system, pressing needs for cost containment and preventive care present new opportunities for psychologists to work with medical inpatients in hospital settings. This book is a guide to health psychology trainees and seasoned clinical psychologists who wish to expand their practice into consulting. Using examples modeled after actual medical notes, readers will learn to review and understand patient medical records, build rapport with patients, and have frank discussions of the complicated issues that can arise during patient interviews. The book also offers recommendations for handling special circumstances in the inpatient setting, such as pain, delirium, and end of life care.