Unit 5B: Health Psychology

Deinstitutionalization

the process of reducing the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals by transitioning them to community-based mental health services, aiming to provide more integrated and humane care.

Evidence-Based Interventions

therapeutic approaches and treatments that are supported by scientific research and empirical evidence, ensuring their effectiveness and reliability in improving mental health outcomes.

Therapeutic Alliance

the collaborative and trusting relationship between a therapist and client, which is crucial for effective therapy and positive treatment outcomes.

Cultural Humility

involves an ongoing process of self-reflection and learning about clients' cultural backgrounds, recognizing and addressing power imbalances, and fostering respectful, culturally sensitive therapeutic relationships.

Nonmaleficence

 the ethical principle of "do no harm," ensuring that therapists avoid actions or interventions that could cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to their clients.

Fidelity

 the ethical principle of maintaining trust, open conversation, and commitment in the therapeutic relationship, ensuring reliability in professional conduct.

• The ethical obligation to remain loyal, keep promises, and follow established protocols accurately

Integrity

 the ethical principle of being honest, transparent, and consistent in their professional actions, ensuring adherence to moral and ethical standards in all aspects of their practice.

• Internal virtue of being honest, consistent, and "whole" in acting upon one’s values, regardless of circumstances

Respect for People's Rights & Dignity

recognizing and honoring the inherent worth of all individuals, ensuring privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination, and treating clients with fairness and respect in clinical psychology.

Psychodynamic Therapies

focus on uncovering unconscious conflicts and past experiences to understand current behavior and emotions, aiming to increase self-awareness and insight into psychological issues.

Free Association

the patient speaking freely about thoughts, feelings, and memories as they come to mind, helping to uncover unconscious conflicts and underlying issues.

Dream Interpretation

analyzing the content of dreams to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings, providing insights into unresolved conflicts and underlying psychological issues.

Person-Centered Therapy

focuses on providing a supportive environment where clients can achieve self-discovery and personal growth, emphasizing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness from the therapist.

Active Listening

 involves the therapist fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the client says, demonstrating empathy and validating the client's feelings and experiences.

Unconditional Positive Regard

an attitude of complete acceptance and support that a therapist offers to a client, regardless of what the client says or does, fostering a safe and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment.

Group Therapy

Therapy conducted with multiple participants led by one or more therapists.

• Focus: Shared experiences, support from peers, and learning from others' perspectives.

• Advantages: Support from group members, feeling less isolated, diverse perspectives.

• Disadvantages: Less individual attention, potential discomfort sharing in a group.

Individual Therapy

Therapy conducted one-on-one between a therapist and a single client.

• Focus: Personal issues, individualized treatment, and deep exploration of personal concerns.

• Advantages: Personalized attention, tailored interventions, and a strong therapeutic alliance.

• Disadvantages: Lack of peer support, higher cost per session.

Cognitive Therapies

 focus on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and beliefs to improve emotional regulation and develop healthier behaviors, aiming to address psychological issues through cognitive restructuring.

Maladaptive Thinking

negative and irrational thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and dysfunctional behaviors, which therapy aims to identify and change.

Cognitive Restructuring

identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs, replacing them with more positive and realistic ones to improve emotional well-being and behavior.

Cognitive Triad

the negative thought patterns about oneself, the world, and the future that contribute to and sustain depression, which therapy aims to identify and change.

Applied Behavior Analysis

therapy that uses principles of learning and conditioning to improve specific behaviors, such as social skills, communication, and academic performance, through systematic interventions and reinforcement strategies.

Exposure Therapy

technique that involves gradually and repeatedly exposing individuals to feared objects or situations in a controlled environment to reduce anxiety and improve coping mechanisms.

Systematic Desensitization

type of exposure therapy that involves gradually exposing individuals to anxiety-provoking stimuli while teaching them relaxation techniques to reduce fear and anxiety.

Aversion Therapy

behavioral technique that pairs unwanted behaviors with unpleasant stimuli to reduce or eliminate those behaviors by creating a negative association.

Token Economies

behavioral therapy systems where individuals earn tokens for displaying desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for rewards, reinforcing positive behavior change.

Biofeedback

technique that uses electronic monitoring to provide individuals with information about physiological processes, such as heart rate or muscle tension, to help them learn to control these functions and improve health and performance.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT)

treatments that combine cognitive and behavioral techniques to address dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors, aiming to improve emotional regulation and develop healthier coping strategies.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness to help individuals manage intense emotions and improve relationships.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on identifying and changing irrational beliefs and thought patterns to reduce emotional distress and promote healthier behaviors.

Hypnosis

therapeutic technique that has shown effectiveness in treating pain and anxiety, but research does not support its use for retrieving accurate memories or age regression.

Psychotropic Medication Therapy

involves the use of medications to treat mental health disorders by affecting brain chemistry, aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning.

Psychoactive Medications

drugs that affect brain chemistry and are used to treat mental health disorders, alleviating symptoms and improving emotional and cognitive functioning.

Antidepressants

psychoactive medications used to treat depressive disorders by altering brain chemistry, primarily increasing the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine to improve mood and emotional state.

Lithium

psychoactive medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder by stabilizing mood swings and reducing the frequency and severity of manic and depressive episodes.

Antianxiety Drugs

psychoactive drugs used to alleviate anxiety symptoms by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain, promoting relaxation and reducing excessive nervousness or worry.

Antipsychotic Medications

psychoactive medications used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain, helping to reduce delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

Tardive Dyskinesia

potential side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic medications, characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements, such as grimacing, tongue movements, and jerking of the limbs.

Psychosurgery

medical procedure that involves surgically altering brain tissue to treat severe mental disorders, typically used as a last resort when other treatments have failed.

Lobotomy

surgical procedure that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, historically used to treat severe mental disorders but now largely abandoned due to its severe and often harmful side effects.

Lesioning

procedure that involves creating small, targeted damage to specific areas of the brain to treat neurological or psychological disorders, often used to alleviate symptoms when other treatments are ineffective.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, commonly used to treat depression by improving mood and cognitive function.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

medical treatment that involves sending small electric currents through the brain to induce a brief seizure, often used to treat severe depression and other mental disorders when other treatments have been ineffective.

Health Psychology

the study of how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness.

Stress

the response of the body and mind to challenges or demands, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental reactions.

• ___________ can cause physical problems like high blood pressure (hypertension), headaches, and a weakened immune system (immune suppression).

Stressors

events or conditions that trigger stress by challenging an individual's ability to cope or adjust.

Eustress

positive stress that enhances motivation, performance, and emotional well-being (Motivating)

Distress

(Debilitating) negative stress that decreases motivation, impairs performance, and leads to emotional and physical problems.

Daily Hassles

Minor irritations that occur regularly. 

An individual commutes to work daily in heavy traffic, leading to frequent delays and increased stress each morning.

Significant Life Changes

Major events that require adaptation. 

An individual recently undergoes a major life transition after relocating to a new city for a job opportunity. This move requires them to adapt to a different environment, build new social networks, and familiarize themselves with a new workplace culture. The stress of these major changes can lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety as they adjust to their new life.

Catastrophes

Unpredictable, large-scale events that cause widespread stress. 

A community is struck by a sudden, devastating hurricane, causing widespread destruction to homes, infrastructure, and local businesses. This unpredictable event displaces thousands of residents and interrupts daily life, leading to substantial stress as individuals and families grapple with loss, uncertainty, and the challenge of rebuilding their lives.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

stressful or traumatic events in childhood that can have long-lasting effects on health and well-being throughout a person's life.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

three-stage response to stress that includes alarm, resistance, and exhaustion, describing how the body reacts and adapts to stress over time.

Alarm Reaction Phase

the initial stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body reacts to a stressor with a "fight-or-flight" response, activating stress hormones and physiological changes.

Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

a physiological reaction to perceived threats that prepares the body to fight, flee, or freeze to enhance survival.

Resistance Phase

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body tries to adapt and cope with a stressor, maintaining heightened alertness and stress hormone levels.

Exhaustion Phase

the final stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body's resources are depleted after prolonged stress, leading to decreased stress tolerance and potential health issues.

• The greatest susceptibility to illness occurs during the ______________.

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

behavioral reaction to stress that involves nurturing activities to protect oneself and one's offspring, and seeking social support to reduce stress.

• This phenomenon occurs mostly in women. 

Problem-Focused Coping

involves directly managing or solving the source of stress to reduce its impact.

Emotion-Focused Coping

managing the emotional response to stress rather than changing the stressful situation itself.

Positive Psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing to help individuals and communities to thrive.

Subjective Well-Being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life. 

In the past week, how often have you felt happy?

1. Never

2. Rarely

3. Sometimes

4. Often

5. Always

Resilience

the ability to adapt and recover quickly from difficulties or change, maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity.

Posttraumatic Growth

positive psychological changes experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances, leading to a higher level of personal or interpersonal functioning

Positive Emotions

feelings that foster enjoyment, interest, and contentment, and contribute to overall well-being and happiness.

• Joy, Gratitude, Serenity, Interest, Hope, Pride, AMusement, Inspiration, Awe, Love

Gratitude

 the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself, enhancing overall well-being by fostering positive feelings and relationships.

Signature Strengths & Virtues

core characteristics that a person naturally possesses and expresses, which contribute to fulfilling, authentic, and engaged living.

Wisdom

the ability to make sound decisions based on deep understanding and experience, contributing to effective problem-solving and interpersonal relationships.

Courage

the mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand fear or difficulty, enabling individuals to face challenges and act in accordance with their values despite potential risks.

Humanity

the quality of being compassionate, empathetic, and supportive towards others, fostering positive interpersonal relationships and social well-being.

Justice

 a commitment to fairness, equity, and advocating for the rights of others, which helps maintain healthy community and societal relationships.

Temperance

 self-regulation and control over excesses and impulses, promoting balance and moderation in personal behavior and relationships.

Transcendence

the ability to connect to the larger universe and find meaning beyond oneself, often through appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality.