Mental & Physical Health Study Guide

Health Psychology

a comprehensive field dedicated to understanding how psychological processes affect health and illness. It examines the complex interactions between thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and social factors, exploring how these elements influence health outcomes, impact illness progression, and inform healthcare practices.

Stress

a multifaceted experience that encompasses both psychological and physiological responses to perceived challenges or threats in the environment. It triggers a range of reactions, potentially impacting overall mental and physical health through mechanisms such as increased heart rate, hormonal changes, and behavioral adaptations.

Hypertension

commonly known as high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition characterized by consistently elevated pressure in the arteries. It is often associated with various risk factors, including chronic stress and poor lifestyle choices, and can lead to severe health complications such as heart disease and stroke if left unmanaged.

Immune Suppression

a condition where the immune system's ability to fight infections and diseases is weakened, often as a result of prolonged exposure to stress. Chronic stress activates physiological changes that can diminish immune responses, making individuals more susceptible to infections and adverse health outcomes.

Stressors

specific events, challenges, or ongoing pressures that place demands on an individual, eliciting stress responses that can threaten emotional and physical well-being. They can be acute, such as a sudden crisis, or chronic, such as ongoing workplace pressures.

Daily Hassles

minor, everyday irritations—such as rushing to get to work on time or dealing with traffic— that accumulate over time and can contribute to elevated stress levels. These constant, small stressors can have a cumulative effect, impacting emotional health and overall life satisfaction.

Significant Life Changes

encompass major transitions and events, such as marriage, divorce, moving, or job loss, which require individuals to adjust their lives significantly. These changes can act as potent stressors because they often necessitate adaptations in routines, relationships, and personal identity.

Catastrophes

large-scale, often traumatic events, such as natural disasters or acts of terrorism. These incidents can disrupt entire communities, creating widespread psychological distress and requiring substantial adaptation from individuals to cope with the aftereffects.

Eustress

a positive form of stress that motivates individuals, enhancing their performance and mood. It is linked to feelings of excitement and fulfillment, driving personal growth and achievement while presenting manageable challenges.

Distress

a negative form of stress characterized by feelings of anxiety, pain, or discomfort, which can hinder daily functioning. It often arises in response to overwhelming pressures, leading to potential physical and mental health issues.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

a wide range of traumatic experiences encountered during childhood, including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. These experiences are associated with detrimental effects on physical and mental health across the lifespan.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

a comprehensive model that describes the physiological response to stress in three stages: the Alarm Reaction Phase, where the body first recognizes the stressor; the Resistance Phase, where the body attempts to adapt to the stressor; and the Exhaustion Phase, which occurs if stress persists beyond the body's capacity to cope.

Alarm Reaction Phase

the body's initial response to a stressor, characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This phase prepares the body for immediate action, releasing stress hormones that heighten alertness and readiness to respond to threats.

Resistance Phase

the body actively attempts to adapt to prolonged stress exposure. During this phase, physiological responses stabilize as the body utilizes hormonal and energy resources to cope with ongoing stressors.

Flight-Fight-Freeze Response

an innate survival mechanism triggered by perceived threats, preparing the body to either confront danger (fight), flee from it (flight), or become immobilized (freeze). This response involves a cascade of physiological changes, including increased heart rate and heightened sensory awareness.

Exhaustion Phase

the body's depletion of resources after prolonged exposure to stress, leading to fatigue, burnout, and a decreased immune response. This phase signals that the body can no longer sustain its coping efforts, increasing vulnerability to illness and mental health issues.

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

that women generally respond to stress through nurturing behaviors and the formation of social bonds, as opposed to the traditional fight-or-flight responses often associated with men. This approach emphasizes the importance of community and support in coping with stress.

Problem-focused Coping

direct strategies aimed at addressing and resolving the source of stress, rather than attempting to reduce the emotional distress associated with it. This type of coping encourages individuals to engage with and find solutions to the challenges they face.

Emotion-focused Coping

comprises strategies developed to manage and alleviate emotional distress associated with a stressful situation. This method does not focus on resolving the actual problem but emphasizes reducing the negative feelings resulting from it.

Positive Psychology

a branch of psychology dedicated to studying the strengths, virtues, and factors that contribute to human flourishing and well-being. It aims to understand the conditions that enable individuals and communities to thrive, focusing not just on the treatment of mental illness but also on enhancing quality of life.

Subjective Well-being

a comprehensive metric used to evaluate individuals' perceptions of their lives, combining emotional reactions (such as happiness) and cognitive evaluations (such as life satisfaction). This concept highlights the individual's personal assessment of their quality of life.

Resilience

the ability of individuals to successfully adapt and recover from adversity, trauma, or significant stress. It is characterized by maintaining psychological well-being and effectively utilizing coping strategies in the face of challenges.

Posttraumatic Growth

Posttraumatic Growth is a psychological phenomenon where individuals report positive changes in their attitudes, values, or behaviors following their struggle with significant adversity or trauma. It illustrates that trauma can lead to new perspectives and personal development.

Positive Emotions

Positive Emotions are feelings that enhance individual well-being and contribute to overall life satisfaction. These emotions, such as joy, gratitude, and love, play a crucial role in fostering resilience and nurturing healthy relationships.

Gratitude

Gratitude is a positive emotional state characterized by an appreciation for the kindness and support received from others. It often fosters a sense of connection, enhances mental health, and strengthens social bonds.

Signature Strengths & Virtues

Signature Strengths & Virtues refer to the unique combination of personal characteristics that individuals possess, which guide their actions and decision-making processes in life. Identifying and utilizing these strengths can enhance well-being and fulfillment.

Categories of Virtues

Categories of Virtues encompass key areas of human excellence reflecting good moral character and ethical behavior, including Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence. These categories serve as a framework for understanding positive human traits.

Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology is the branch of psychology that investigates unusual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior. It focuses on the study of psychological disorders, their symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches to alleviate distress.

Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is the field dedicated to assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders and emotional issues. Clinicians utilize various therapeutic methods, and it emphasizes evidence-based interventions to support mental health.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)

The DSM-5-TR is a comprehensive manual utilized by mental health professionals for diagnosing and classifying mental disorders based on established criteria, providing standardized terminology and diagnostic practices.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

The ICD is an internationally recognized classification system utilized for diagnosing and managing health conditions, including mental disorders. It establishes standardized criteria for healthcare professionals across various cultures.

Behavioral Perspective

The Behavioral Perspective emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and considers the ways in which behavior is learned and reinforced through interactions with the environment. This perspective often employs conditioning principles to explain behavior.

Psychodynamic Perspective

The Psychodynamic Perspective examines the interplay of unconscious psychological forces that shape human behavior, emotions, and experiences. It emphasizes the impact of early childhood experiences and internal conflicts on adult behavior.

Humanistic Perspective

The Humanistic Perspective focuses on the inherent goodness of humans and the potential for personal growth. It emphasizes concepts such as self-actualization, empathy, and the subjective experiences of individuals.

Cognitive Perspective

The Cognitive Perspective centers on understanding mental processes, including perception, memory, and problem-solving. It examines how these cognitive functions influence behavior and emotional responses.

Evolutionary Perspective

The Evolutionary Perspective seeks to explain mental processes and behaviors in terms of their adaptive value and evolutionary origins, understanding how natural selection influences behavior patterns.

Sociocultural Perspective

The Sociocultural Perspective analyzes the influence of social and cultural contexts on behavior and mental processes, exploring how societal norms, values, and interactions shape individual experiences.

Biological Perspective

The Biological Perspective investigates the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes, focusing on the interplay between genetics, brain structures, and neurochemistry.

Biopsychosocial Model

The Biopsychosocial Model offers a holistic approach to understanding mental health by integrating biological, psychological, and social cultural dimensions. It underscores that mental health is influenced by an interplay of these factors.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders represent a category of mental health conditions characterized by excessive, often irrational, fear or worry that interferes with daily functioning. Symptoms can include physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and heightened vigilance.

Specific Phobia

A Specific Phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, leading to avoidance behaviors that can significantly disrupt daily life.

Acrophobia

Acrophobia is an overwhelming fear of heights that can provoke severe anxiety and avoidance of high places, impacting the quality of life for those affected.

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia describes an extreme fear of spiders, which can trigger panic attacks and avoidance behaviors, even when encountering non-threatening spiders.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often leading individuals to avoid public places.

Ataque de nervios

Ataque de nervios is a culturally bound syndrome prevalent in Latin American and Latino communities, marked by severe emotional distress that may manifest as panic, crying, and trembling.

Taijin Kyofusho

Taijin Kyofusho is a cultural syndrome primarily recognized in Japan, characterized by an intense fear that one's appearance or bodily functions may offend others, influencing social interactions.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder is marked by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, leading to persistent anxiety about experiencing future attacks and significant alterations in behavior due to fear.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder involves an intense fear of social situations that may lead to embarrassment or scrutiny, resulting in avoidance behavior and significant distress in social contexts.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about various life events, often accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders involve the experience of persistent, uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and the performance of repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that individuals feel compelled to complete to alleviate anxiety.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

These disorders arise from exposure to traumatic events, leading to symptoms such as intrusive memories, emotional disturbances, and difficulties in functioning as a result of the traumatic experience.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, and heightened anxiety or arousal.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders are a group of conditions originating in childhood that permanently affect various areas of development, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD encompasses a range of developmental conditions characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication skills, and repetitive or restrictive behaviors.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

These disorders comprise a group of psychological conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, coupled with distressing thoughts and emotions regarding food and body image.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder marked by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-starvation and an extreme concern about body image, resulting in dangerously low body weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa involves episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain, often accompanied by a distorted body image.

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders are a category of mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that differ significantly from societal norms, often causing distress and dysfunction in one’s personal and social life.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Cluster A Personality Disorders are characterized by eccentric or odd behavior and includes Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder is characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, leading individuals to view others’ motives as malevolent.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder involves a consistent pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression, resulting in a preference for solitary activities.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder features eccentric behavior, cognitive distortions, and social anxiety that often impede personal relationships.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Cluster B Personality Disorders are marked by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, and include Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic, and Borderline Personality Disorders.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder encompasses a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often manifested in deceitful, manipulative, or criminal behaviors.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and a constant need for attention, often leading to theatrical behaviors and relationships.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotional regulation, and impulsive behaviors.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Cluster C Personality Disorders are characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors and include Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder involves severe social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, often leading to avoidance of social interactions.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder features an excessive need to be cared for, which manifests as submissive behavior and an intense fear of separation.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is characterized by a strong preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, often impacting flexibility and openness.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders encompass a range of conditions marked by severe disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior, including schizophrenia.

Delusions

Delusions are strongly held false beliefs that individuals maintain despite contradictory evidence, often experienced in various mental health disorders.

Delusions of Persecution

Delusions of Persecution involve beliefs that one is being targeted or conspired against, significantly affecting the individual's functioning and sense of safety.

Delusions of Grandeur

Delusions of Grandeur consist of beliefs that one possesses extraordinary abilities or attributes, influencing the individual's perceptions and interactions.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur without external stimuli; individuals may hear voices or see objects that are not present, significantly impacting their reality.

Disorganized Thinking

Disorganized Thinking manifests as illogical, fragmented, or incoherent thought processes, impairing the individual's ability to communicate effectively.

Disorganized Speech

Disorganized Speech is reflected in a lack of coherent thought during verbal communication, which can lead to speech that is nonsensical or difficult to follow.

Word Salad

Word Salad refers to a disorganized and incoherent combination of words and phrases that lack meaningful connection, often seen in severe mental disorders.

Disorganized Motor Behavior

Disorganized Motor Behavior includes erratic and inappropriate actions that do not align with social norms, often manifesting as unpredictable behavior.

Catatonia

Catatonia is a state of unresponsiveness to the environment, characterized by a lack of movement, response, or interaction, often associated with severe mental disorders.

Flat Affect

Flat Affect describes a diminished emotional expression, where an individual exhibits little to no emotion in facial expressions or speech tone.

Dopamine Hypothesis

The Dopamine Hypothesis suggests that symptoms of schizophrenia may arise from an imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, contributing to psychotic features.

Positive Symptoms

Positive Symptoms of schizophrenia entail the presence of abnormal behaviors such as hallucinations and delusions that add to the individual's experience.

Negative Symptoms

Negative Symptoms consist of deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, including apathy, reduced emotional expression, and social withdrawal.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, identity, memory, and perception, often occurring in response to traumatic experiences.

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative Amnesia is a condition characterized by a significant inability to recall important personal information, typically related to traumatic or stressful events.

Dissociative Fugue

Dissociative Fugue is characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from home and an inability to recall one’s past, including their identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is marked by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities within a single individual.

Deinstitutionalization

Deinstitutionalization refers to the policy of relocating individuals with severe mental illnesses from large institutions to community-based mental health facilities, aiming for improved quality of care.

Evidence-Based Interventions

Evidence-Based Interventions are therapeutic practices that are grounded in empirical research demonstrating their effectiveness in treating specific psychological issues.

Cultural Humility

Cultural Humility is an approach within healthcare and psychology that emphasizes self-awareness and openness to understanding the cultural differences and perspectives of patients.

Therapeutic Alliance

The Therapeutic Alliance is the collaborative relationship between a healthcare professional and a patient, integral to effective treatment outcomes and patient engagement.

Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that refers to the obligation of healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients during treatment.

Fidelity

Fidelity involves a commitment to maintaining honesty and accuracy in professional interactions with clients and upholding the integrity of the therapeutic process.

Integrity

Integrity in psychology entails adherence to moral and ethical principles, ensuring that professionals act consistently and truthfully in their practice.

Respect for People’s Rights & Dignity

This ethical principle underscores the importance of recognizing and honoring the rights and dignity of all individuals, ensuring privacy and confidentiality in therapeutic relationships.

Free Association

Free Association is a psychoanalytic technique in which individuals are encouraged to express their thoughts freely and spontaneously, providing insight into their unconscious mind.

Dream Interpretation

Dream Interpretation is a technique used in psychoanalysis that seeks to uncover the latent meanings within dreams, offering insights into the unconscious thoughts and desires of individuals.