Physical Disorders and Health Psychology - Abnormal Psychology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Abnormal Psychology

Download Physical Disorders and Health Psychology - Abnormal Psychology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Abnormal Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! contents) Physical Disorders and Health Psychology Docsity.com Psychological and Social Factors that Influence Health • Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Factors – Are major contributors to medical illness and disease – Examples include AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular diseases – Recognize that psychological factors can affect medical conditions • Psychological Approaches to Health and Disease – Behavioral medicine – Prevention, diagnosis, treatment of medical illness – Health psychology – Psychological factors involved in the promotion of health Docsity.com Overview of Stress and the Stress Response • Nature of Stress – Stress – Physiological response of an individual to a stressor – Stress responses vary from person to person • The Stress Response and the General Adaptation Syndrome – Phase 1 – Alarm response (sympathetic nervous system arousal) – Phase 2 – State of resistance (mobilized coping and action) – Phase 3 – State of exhaustion (chronic stress, permanent damage) Docsity.com Physiology of Stress • The Biology of Stress – Stress activates the sympathetic branch of the ANS – Stress activates the HPA axis, producing cortisol – The relation between the hippocampus and HPA activation • The Function of the Hippocampus in HPA-Stress Response Cycle – Hippocampus – Part of the limbic system and highly responsive to cortisol – Hippocampus helps to turn off the HPA cycle – Chronic stress may damage cells in the hippocampus – Damage to hippocampal cells interferes with stopping the HPA loop Docsity.com Psychological and Social Factors: Their Relation to Stress Physiology  Primate Research: High and Low Social Status  High cortisol is associated with low social status  Low social status is associated with fewer lymphocytes and immune suppression  Dominant males benefit from predictability and controllability  Vulnerabilities Operative in Mental Illness Contribute to Physical Illness  Stress, perceived uncontrollability, low social support, negative affect  Interpretation of Physiological Response and Situation Seems Critical Docsity.com Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) • Nature of AIDS – Course from HIV to full blown AIDS is variable – Median time from initial infection to full-blown AIDS is 7.3 to 10 years or more – Stress of getting an AIDS diagnosis can be devastating • Role of Stress Reduction Programs – Higher stress and low social support speed progression of disease – Reduce stress of diagnosis, improve immune system functioning • AIDS is Influenced by Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Factors Docsity.com Cancer: Psychological and Social Influences • Field of Psychoncology – Study of psychological factors and their relation to cancer • Psychological and Behavioral Contributions to Cancer – Perceived lack of control – Inadequate or inappropriate coping responses (e.g., denial) – Overwhelming stressful life events – Life-style risk behaviors – Psychological factors also are involved in chemotherapy • Cancer is Influenced by Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Factors Docsity.com Cardiovascular Problems: Hypertension • Hypertension – High Blood Pressure – Major risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease – Causes wear and tear of the blood vessels – Essential hypertension is the most common form • Contributing Factors and Associated Features of Hypertension – Affects 20% of all adults between the ages of 25 and 74 – African Americans are most likely to develop hypertension relative to Caucasians – Salt, fluid volume, sympathetic arousal, stress, and lifestyle are contributors – Core psychological contributors include anger and hostility • Hypertension Is Influenced by Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Factors Docsity.com Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Influences • Nature of Chronic Fatigue (CF) – Symptoms include lack of energy, marked fatigue, and pain – Most common in females, with incidence increasing in Western countries – No evidence to support link with viral infection, immune problems, depression – CF seems related to a high-achievement oriented lifestyle – Fast paced lifestyle combines with stress and illness – Psychological misinterpretation of after effects of illness • Treatment – Medications are ineffective – Cognitive-behavioral interventions appear promising Docsity.com A complex specific model of chronic fatigue syndrome Trigger * stress and/or acute illness BD) oon Docsity.com Psychosocial Treatment of Physical Disorders • Biofeedback: An Overview – Patient learns to control bodily responses – Used with chronic headache and hypertension • Relaxation and Meditation – Progressive muscle relaxation – Transcendental meditation (TM) • Comprehensive Stress Reduction and Pain Management Programs – More effective and durable than individual interventions alone Docsity.com