ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the key components of behavioral medicine and describes the rationale and evidence that support the integration of behavioral medicine into primary care. It explores how the principles and concepts of behavioral medicine can be applied in healthcare settings in the USA and in developing countries. Behavioral medicine is at the intersection of three practice models familiar to practitioners in developing countries, namely the medical model, the public health model and the traditional medicine model. A biopsychosocial approach to care is characterized by the practitioner being curious enough to assess the biological, psychological, and social factors of a patient's life, regardless of the initial complaint. The chapter suggests that family medicine and primary care, the principles and skills can be applied in community settings such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome centers, palliative care clinics, and alcohol or drug treatment centers. Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of ill health and disability worldwide.
