Proposal for an Update of the Definition and Scope of Behavioral Medicine: Commentary

Excerpt

I applaud the authors’ intent to re-examine the definition of behavioral medicine, given the 25+ years since the last revision (ISBM, 1990). Personally, I believe it is a sign of the vitality of the field of behavioral medicine that each new generation of scientists, clinicians, policy makers, and educators periodically re-examine the relevance of its definition and scope. However, in doing so, we need to remind ourselves of the collective thousands of hours devoted to creating the several iterations of definitions during the three major gatherings of the leaders of this emerging field, so that we do not find ourselves in the position whereby “s/he who ignores history will be destined to repeat it.” …