Unit 5 Mental and Physical Health

Stress

The body’s response to physical, emotional, or psychological challenges.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, often linked to stress and increasing heart disease risk.

Headaches

Pain in the head caused by stress, tension, or medical conditions.

Immune Suppression

A weakened immune system, making the body more prone to illness.

Stressors

Events causing stress, which can be eustress (positive) or distress (negative).

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Traumatic childhood events that impact long-term health.

GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome)

The body’s three-stage stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Tend and Befriend Theory

A stress response where individuals seek social support rather than fight-or-flight.

Problem-Focused Coping

Tackling stress by addressing its root cause.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotions rather than solving the problem.

Positive Psychology

A field that studies well-being, strengths, and human flourishing.

Subjective Well-Being

An individual’s personal perception of happiness and life satisfaction.

Positive Subjective Experiences

Feelings of joy, gratitude, or contentment.

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological change following adversity or trauma.

Psychological Disorder

A mental health condition that affects thinking, emotions, or behavior.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)

A classification system for mental disorders used in the U.S.

ICD (International Classification of Mental Disorders)

The WHO’s global system for diagnosing diseases, including mental illnesses.

Eclectic Approach

Using techniques from multiple psychological perspectives in therapy.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A theory that mental disorders result from genetic predispositions and environmental stress.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

A disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

A developmental disorder affecting social interaction and communication.

Delusions

Strong false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences (e.g., hearing voices) without external stimuli.

Disorganized Thinking/Speech

Impaired thought processes leading to incoherent speech.

Disorganized Motor Behaviors

Abnormal movements, including excessive agitation or catatonia.

Negative Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that involve a lack of normal behaviors, such as reduced emotion.

Positive Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that involve excess behaviors, such as hallucinations.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder with prolonged sadness and loss of interest.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Chronic depression lasting for at least two years.

Bipolar I

A mood disorder with extreme manic episodes and possible depressive episodes.

Bipolar II

A disorder with hypomanic (milder manic) episodes and depression.

Specific Phobia

Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult, leading to avoidance of public places.

Panic Disorder

A condition marked by sudden, intense panic attacks.

Ataque de nervios

A culturally specific anxiety-related reaction found in Latin American cultures.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Extreme fear of social situations due to fear of judgment.

Taijin Kyofusho

A Japanese disorder characterized by fear of offending others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Chronic excessive worry about everyday life.

Obsessions

Persistent, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Hoarding Disorder

Difficulty discarding possessions, leading to excessive clutter.

Dissociative Amnesia

Memory loss due to trauma, often involving personal information.

Dissociative Amnesia with Fugue

Memory loss combined with unexpected travel or identity confusion.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A condition where a person has two or more distinct identities.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

A disorder caused by trauma, resulting in flashbacks and severe anxiety.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by severe food restriction and intense fear of weight gain.

Bulimia Nervosa

A disorder involving binge eating followed by purging.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by extreme distrust and suspicion of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A condition where individuals prefer isolation and show little emotion.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Characterized by odd thinking, eccentric behavior, and discomfort in social situations.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder involving disregard for others, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Marked by unstable relationships, impulsivity, and emotional instability.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Social inhibition and hypersensitivity to criticism.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive reliance on others for support and decision-making.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by perfectionism and need for control.

Psychotherapy

Treatment of mental disorders through psychological methods.

Evidence-Based Interventions

Therapies that have been scientifically tested and proven effective.

Therapeutic Alliance

The bond and trust between therapist and client.

Psychotropic Medication

Drugs that alter brain function to treat mental disorders.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of doing no harm.

Fidelity

Ethical commitment to being trustworthy and keeping promises.

Integrity

Upholding honesty and strong moral principles in treatment.

Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

Honoring individuals’ autonomy and treating them with fairness.

Psychodynamic Therapies

Therapies focusing on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Free Association

A technique where clients freely express thoughts to uncover unconscious conflicts.

Cognitive Therapies

Approaches focused on changing negative thought patterns.

Cognitive Restructuring

Modifying maladaptive thoughts to improve emotional well-being.

Fear Hierarchies

A tool used in exposure therapy to gradually confront fears.

Cognitive Triad

A pattern of negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.

Behavior Therapies

Therapies focused on changing maladaptive behaviors.

Exposure Therapies

Gradual exposure to feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety.

Systematic Desensitization

A structured exposure therapy used to reduce fear.

Aversion Therapies

Pairing unwanted behaviors with negative stimuli to discourage them.

Token Economies

A reward system used to reinforce desired behaviors.

Biofeedback

A technique using monitoring devices to control physiological responses.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)

A therapy combining cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A CBT-based approach designed for emotional regulation.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

A therapy challenging irrational beliefs to improve mental health.

Humanistic Therapies

Therapies focused on self-actualization and personal growth.

Person-Centered Therapy

A humanistic therapy emphasizing self-exploration.

Active Listening

A communication technique that fosters understanding and empathy.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting clients without judgment.

Group Therapy

Therapy conducted with multiple clients.

Hypnosis

A therapeutic technique inducing a trance-like state for treatment.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression.

Antianxiety Medications

Drugs that help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A movement disorder caused by long-term antipsychotic use.

Psychosurgery (Lesioning)

Surgical intervention to treat mental disorders.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

A noninvasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity.