Final answer:
Health Psychology is the subfield of psychology focused on the relationship between mental state and illness. It involves studying psychological factors that affect physical health and designing interventions to improve both mental and physical health outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Someone interested in Health Psychology might have been interested in the link between her mental state and her illness. Health psychology is a subfield of psychology that is particularly interested in how psychological factors influence health, illness, and responses to disease. Research has identified connections between personality traits, such as depression and anxiety, and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. For instance, neuroticism has been associated with chronic health issues and increased mortality rates. Furthermore, the biochemical theory of brain diseases suggests that imbalances in neurotransmitters can lead to mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, again highlighting the interplay between mental state and physical health.
Given the complexity of mental illnesses and their significant impact on individuals' lives, health psychologists play a key role in researching and designing interventions that help address these issues. They work to understand the risk factors and develop strategies to prevent illness by influencing behavioral changes, as well as assist in the management and rehabilitation of those already affected by mental health issues.