This subject attempts to give an introduction to a number of issues in the field which has grown very rapidly in recent years under the rubric "health psychology". Health is analysed using the biopsychosocial model. The interaction between biological, psychological and social factors in the production of health and illness thus forms the main focus. The treatment of the subject will be to examine a number of topics and problems in depth, rather than give a more superficial treatment of a broad number of issues. Areas covered include psychosocial stress and its affect on health; stress management, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, AIDS research and psychoimmunology; dispositional factors in cardiovascular disease; influence of supportive networks on health, doctor-patient interactions and compliance with medical regimens.