Behavioral medicine: a new development.

Behavioral medicine had its formal beginnings at a Yale University conference in 1977; thus, as a field, it is still in an embryonic state of development. Behavioral medicine practitioners focus on operationally defined behaviors to set treatment goals, formulate treatment plans, and monitor changes in symptoms. They evaluate a patient's current situation to determine the antecedent and consequence of a defined behavior. The authors review the history of behavioral medicine, discuss its current interpretations, and compare it with psychosomatic medicine. They also discuss potential hazards and the future outlook for this interdisciplinary approach.