Christmas 2016 - Health and happiness

Underneath all of our civilisation and science, we’re still primates - and the connection between patient and doctor can be reinforced by simply taking a hand. Robin Youngson, cofounder of hearts in healthcare, and Mitzi Blennerhassett, who has written extensively on patient engagement, have co-authored an editorial calling for the humanisation of medicine, and we talk to them about the power of touch. Read the editorial: www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6262 Andrew Steptoe is the British Heart Foundation professor of psychology, at University College London. He and colleagues have been using a large cohort study to measure the link between overall happiness and health. Read the full research: www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6267