John D. Robinson

Eating Disorders in Men: Current Considerations

Over the past two decades, there has been a change in the way men think about their bodies. The media portrays images of men with muscular bodies and a “six pack” abdomen. These images can create body dissatisfaction in males. With the change in the way that the media and society in the United States look at men, so has the drive for men to achieve this ideal body image. Eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and strict exercise and diet regimens seem to plague young men as do the images in advertisements. Although eating disorders in men are similar to what women experience, men seem to strive for more body mass whereas women try to obtain thinness. Gay men and heterosexual men seem to experience eating disorders in the same way although there are differences between how they perceive their bodies. This paper outlines how the media contributes to body dissatisfaction in men. In addition to understanding how the media affects men, it is important to review and possibly revise out understanding of eating disorders and body dysmorphia symptoms to gain a solid understanding of how these symptoms appear in men today.

Breast Cancer in Men: A Need for Psychological Intervention

Male breast cancer is a serious issue that needs to be addressed more fully by the medical and public community. However, due to a lack of awareness and limited research on the topic, there is a general absence of knowledge concerning the psychological implications of this disease in men as well as a need for greater understanding of the medical diagnosis and treatment of male breast carcinoma. Similarly, there still remains a considerable gender difference between the awareness of female breast cancer and male breast cancer Although breast cancer in men makes up only 1% of all breast cancers reported in the United States, it is increasing in incidence. There are approximately 2000 new cases and approximately 450 deaths due to male breast cancer each year. Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in men is very similar to that described in women, however, it has been shown that men are being diagnosed at a later stage of the disease than women.

Mentoring in the Academic Medical Setting: The Gender Gap

Mentoring is an essential part of success in the academic medical center. The provision of effective mentoring is key to the success of the increasing numbers of women entering medicine. However, the gender distribution within the hierarchy of medicine has not changed in that the power still resides with men in the system. Currently, men are attempting to mentor women, and so as the proportion of women in medicine continues to grow, they will become more influential in this setting and will become increasingly responsible for providing mentoring to men. In either case, effective communication across gender lines is an essential aspect of the mentoring process. Psychologists in academic medical settings can provide guidance to faculty and staff on the critical aspects of social development and communication, which may affect how women and men are mentored and the success of this mentoring process, whether across or within gender lines.

Breast cancer in men: Emasculation by association?

The occurrence of breast cancer in men is rare in comparison to women. Public knowledge that men can get breast cancer and of male breast self-examination are lacking. Research in the course and treatment of breast cancer in men is needed. Men generally present in more advanced stages of breast cancer than women, and have a poorer prognosis. In this article, the epidemiology, common symptoms, diagnostic methods, and current treatment of breast cancer in men are described. Gender differences in presentation and course of illness are discussed. Additionally, the psychological implications of breast cancer for male gender roles and masculine identity are explored. Directions for further investigation are given. Treatment providers are encouraged to educate themselves and their male patients on breast cancer in men and male breast examination techniques so that this disease may be identified earlier in its course and survival rates improved.

Psychological Consultation and Services in a General Medical Hospital

When psychologists need to see patients who have been admitted to a general medical hospital or are asked to see a patient in a general medical hospital, they must be aware of, and in compliance with, the rules governing consultation, privileging, and privacy. Psychological treatment for patients is an important part of the treatment of patients with medical conditions that may be exacerbated by psychosocial stressors, preexisting anxiety, or depressive symptoms. The role of the psychologist is to have an integrated role with the medical team and work with the patient in effectively managing these symptoms. Models for promoting psychological services to all patients, especially those who are medically ill, have emerged as one of the few growth areas in psychology.

The Role of the American Board of Professional Psychology in Professional Mobility

This article describes the role of certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in easing the process by which psychologists move beyond their original jurisdictional boundaries to practice psychology. Meeting the requirements for licensure or certification in the various jurisdictions can be a difficult task because these requirements vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Other mechanisms that are available to facilitate this process include the Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and certification by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. The ABPP certificate/ diploma has been regarded by many state psychological associations and state boards of psychology as an appropriate way in which to recognize psychologists who are eligible for licensure/certification in a jurisdiction because of the examination requirements for board certification.

Ethics and the Law

Strong health care rests within a foundation of respect and humanity. When people seek health care, not only do they seek the wisdom and knowledge of providers but they also seek a professional connection that makes them feel comfortable. They make sometimes difficult decisions based on the information they are given as it applies to their individual situation and to their family, community, and cultural context. They do so privately, within a network of confidentiality. The work of health care providers is guided by ethical principles, broader philosophical principles, and relevant legislation. Recent legislation, in the form of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104–191, also known as the Kennedy–Kassebaum Act, was drafted to protect privacy in the electronic era. It contains prongs designed to improve efficiency of health care delivery, to standardize electronic data interchange, to protect confidentiality and security of health data, and to protect the confidentiality and integrity of individually identifiable health care information. Ethical principles do not carry the weight of the law, but they are mandatory within professions and they traditionally have been used as touchstones to provide a lens through which professional conduct may be examined, measured, debated, modified, and improved. Philosophical principles reflect higher-order constructs, beliefs, approaches to individuals and work, and values within work. This chapter aims to integrate these three approaches to professional conduct as they apply to clinical health psychology in medical centers. In the ever-evolving ethical and legal contours of heath care, the bases for shaping the interface between professionals and consumers lie in the law, ethics codes, and philosophical notions of what constitutes professionalism. Within each of these sources, it is possible to enrich dialogue on the impact of a professional’s conduct on the individual patient, the community of consumers (the public), public perceptions of the profession of clinical health psychology, and the community of clinical health psychology providers.

Race and Ethnicity in the Medical Setting: Psychological Implications

The effects of race and ethnicity in the medical setting are addressed in terms of the psychological implications for optimal treatment. The face of the world, and especially that of the United States, is changing. As the ethnic and racial demographics of the country change, it is important for psychologists in medical settings to be aware of what this means to us. We must be able to understand what a person brings to the setting when they are seeking medical and psychological care. The focus of this special issue is to get an understanding of some of the differences among people and how to utilized this knowledge, manuscripts are included discussing adolescents to geriatrics. The topics of sickle cell disease, cancer, weight management, etc., are addressed.

Cholesterol and Aggression: An Ethnocultural Perspective

Although serum cholesterol has for several decades been linked to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, cardiovascular primary prevention studies that have resulted in low or lowered cholesterol have not reduced total mortality. This finding may be due in part to an increase in mortality from suicides, homicides, and accidents among people with low or lowered serum cholesterol. This article attempts to review the literature on cholesterol and aggressive behavior, examines possible links connecting the two, and suggests an ethnocultural perspective to these connections.