Psychology Chapters 5–9: Stress, Anxiety, Mood, and Eating Disorders

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

The study of interactions among psychological processes, the nervous system, and the immune system.

What is cortisol?

A stress hormone involved in the body's response to stress.

What are telomeres?

Protective ends of chromosomes that help protect genetic material.

What is telomerase?

An enzyme that helps maintain telomere length.

How does the practice exam connect stress to telomere shortening?

It identifies reduced telomerase activity caused by cortisol as a proposed explanation.

What does it mean that the effects of stress are cumulative?

The effects of earlier stress exposure can build up and influence responses to later stressors.

What is stress-related immune dysregulation?

Disruption of normal immune-system regulation associated with stress.

What three domains are considered in the biopsychosocial model?

Biological, psychological, and social influences.

What are the four PTSD symptom categories?

Intrusion; avoidance; negative alterations in cognitions and mood; arousal and reactivity.

What is intrusion in PTSD?

Unwanted re-experiencing of the traumatic event, such as intrusive memories.

What is avoidance in PTSD?

Avoiding trauma-related memories, feelings, people, places, or situations.

What are negative alterations in cognitions and mood in PTSD?

Trauma-related negative beliefs or emotions, detachment, or self-blame.

What is arousal and reactivity in PTSD?

Heightened alertness or reactivity, such as irritability or an exaggerated startle response.

How does the course review sheet explain PTSD and phobias?

They can be learned situational responses through classical conditioning.

Why can avoidance maintain fear after trauma?

Avoidance can prevent new learning that reminders or situations may now be safe.

What is prolonged exposure?

A PTSD treatment involving repeated, planned engagement with traumatic memories or reminders.

What should you compare when distinguishing adjustment disorder, acute stress disorder, and PTSD?

Their stressor requirements, symptom patterns, and timing or duration.

What is fear?

A threat-related response generally associated with an immediate danger.

What is anxiety?

Apprehension about a possible future threat, often involving worry and vigilance.

What do fear and anxiety have in common?

Both involve perceived threat and may include physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses.

What is a specific phobia?

A persistent, excessive fear of a particular object or situation that may lead to avoidance.

What treatment does the original practice exam identify as best for a specific phobia?

Exposure therapy.

What is social anxiety?

Fear of scrutiny, judgment, embarrassment, or negative evaluation in social situations.

What is a panic attack?

A sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms.

What characterizes panic disorder?

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by ongoing concern about additional attacks or related behavior changes.

What is the cognitive theory of panic?

The idea that catastrophic interpretations of bodily sensations can increase vulnerability to panic disorder.

What characterizes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Excessive, difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life.

What is an obsession in OCD?

An intrusive, unwanted thought, image, or urge that causes distress.

What is a compulsion in OCD?

A repetitive behavior or mental act performed to reduce distress or prevent a feared outcome.

How are obsessions and compulsions related?

Compulsions often relate to the content of obsessions and are used to reduce distress or prevent a feared outcome.

What is exposure and response prevention (ERP)?

A treatment in which a person encounters obsession-related triggers while resisting the usual compulsion.

Why might hoarding be considered distinct from OCD?

Treatments reducing OCD symptoms do not necessarily reduce hoarding symptoms.

How can culture influence sources of worry?

Cultural values and expectations can shape the concerns people commonly experience.

What is a depressive episode?

A period of depressive symptoms, such as depressed mood or loss of interest, with related changes in functioning.

What is a manic episode?

A distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and increased energy or activity, with marked changes in functioning.

What is a hypomanic episode?

A period of elevated or irritable mood and increased energy that is less severe than mania.

What is a unipolar depressive disorder?

A depressive-disorder pattern without manic or hypomanic episodes.

What distinguishes bipolar I disorder?

It involves at least one manic episode.

What is a depressive disorder pattern without manic or hypomanic episodes?

Major depressive disorder.

What distinguishes bipolar II disorder?

Hypomanic and major depressive episodes, without a full manic episode.

What is cyclothymic disorder?

A chronic pattern of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full episode criteria.

What is persistent depressive disorder?

A chronic depressive condition involving depressed mood over an extended period.

What is postpartum depression?

A depressive episode associated with the period after childbirth.

What is learned helplessness?

A pattern in which experiences of uncontrollability lead someone to expect that their actions will not change outcomes.

What is behavioral activation?

A treatment strategy that increases engagement in meaningful or rewarding activities.

How does behavioral activation connect with depression?

It counteracts learned helplessness and the extinction of operant learning.

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?

A treatment that addresses unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.

What is interpersonal therapy?

A treatment focused on interpersonal relationships and social difficulties associated with mood symptoms.

What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

A biological treatment included in the comparison of mood-disorder treatments.

What is bright light therapy?

A treatment involving scheduled exposure to bright light.

How does nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) differ from a suicide attempt?

NSSI involves intentional self-injury without intent to die; a suicide attempt involves at least some intent to die.

What is crisis intervention?

Timely support during a crisis that assesses immediate needs and safety.

What are the three main eating disorders emphasized?

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

What characterizes anorexia nervosa?

Restrictive eating and significantly low body weight, with relevant weight/shape concerns.

What characterizes bulimia nervosa?

Recurrent binge eating and compensatory behaviors, with self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

What characterizes binge-eating disorder?

Recurrent binge-eating episodes associated with distress, without regular inappropriate compensatory behaviors.

What is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)?

Restrictive food intake associated with sensory sensitivity, low interest in food, or fear of aversive consequences.

What limitation can result from focusing on thinness when diagnosing eating disorders?

Some individuals may be overlooked because they do not fit a thinness-focused stereotype.

What is the Maudsley model associated with?

Family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

What may happen to metabolism during starvation?

The metabolic rate can slow, and satiety can change.

What does BMI measure, and what can it miss?

BMI relates weight to height but does not measure body composition or capture every individual health factor.

What should a biopsychosocial model of obesity include?

Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

How can restriction or purging be reinforced?

By the perceived cognitive satisfaction of feeling closer to a thin ideal.

How can binge eating be reinforced?

By the physical soothing associated with particular foods.

What weight-loss medication outcome is identified?

Some weight loss, but less than hoped for.

What is a diathesis?

A predisposition or vulnerability that can increase the likelihood of a disorder.

How can unhelpful causal attributions contribute to psychopathology?

They can contribute to shame and self-blame, increasing social isolation.

How can relationship strain and social isolation relate to psychopathology?

They can contribute to psychological difficulties or develop as consequences of symptoms.

What is the central learning-based idea in the review sheet?

Experiences can teach fear, avoidance, helplessness, or soothing behaviors.