| Abstract: | An intriguing aspect of the meta-analysis by Chiles, Lambert, and Hatch (this issue) is the finding that medical cost offsets associated with psychological interventions vary across patient populations. Our commentary describes four types of patients: the worried well, the worried unwell, the chronically disabled, and the chronically ill. We suggest the kinds of behavioral medicine interventions most likely to lead to restored health and decreased medical utilization for each patient type, and the changes in research and practice necessary to maximize clinical psychology's impact on physical health intervention. |
