PSYC 308: Abnormal Behavior - Test 2 Flashcards

Stress

Perception of challenges to wellbeing.

Allostatic load

biological cost of adapting to stress

Stressors

External demands causing stress.

Coping Strategies

Efforts to manage stressors.

Chronic Stress

Long-term stress exposure.

Acute Stress

a short-term psychological and/or physiological response to a stressful event or situation

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Checklist used for self-reported stressful events to assess stress levels.

Holmes and Rahe

Developers of the SRRS.

SRRS Scores

Indicate likelihood of stress-related illness.

300+ SRRS Score

High stress; 80% illness chance.

150-299 SRRS Score

Moderate stress; roughly 50% illness chance.

150 or less SRRS Score

Low stress; low illness probability.

Allostatic Load

Biological cost of stress responses.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of peripheral nervous system activated by stress.

Cytokines

Chemical messengers in immune response.

Proinflammatory Cytokines

proteins secreted by immune cells that promote inflammation and support immune system response.

Anti-inflammatory Cytokines

Reduce immune response effects. They help regulate the immune response by reducing inflammation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Inflammation

Part of the response to chronic stress; can be a cytokine imbalance. Contributes to the physical symptoms related tot chronic stress.

Cortisol

Hormone produced for and regulating stress response.

Adjustment Disorder

Maladaptive response to common stressor.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a life-threatening situation, violence, or natural disaster

Symptoms of PTSD

4 clusters of related symptoms.

Intrusion: Involuntary and distressing memories, nightmares, flashbacks

Avoidance: of thoughts, feelings, conversations, people, places, activities, etc that remind of the traumatic event.

Negative Cognition and Mood: Persistent negative beliefs, distorted memories, difficulty concentrating/making decisions, feelings of guilt, shame, or detachment

Hyperarousal: Irritability or outbursts of anger, Difficulty sleeping, Hypervigilance (excessive alertness), and Startle responses.

Acute Stress Disorder

Diagnosis requires:

1. Exposure to a traumatic event

2. Development of symptoms within 3 days of the event

3. Symptoms persist for at least 3 days and no longer than 1 month

4. Symptoms meet specific diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Avoidance Symptoms of stress disorders

Avoiding trauma-related stimuli.

Negative Cognitions

Feelings of self-blame, detachment and negative beliefs related to stress disorders.

Arousal Symptoms of stress disorders

Hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response.

Causal Factors of PTSD

nature of trauma, individual risk factors, sociocultural risk factors

Stress Inoculation Training

Building resilience through coping skills. Often used favor individuals who have or will see combat

Psychological Debriefing

Post-trauma support sessions.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. Used in treatment of stress disorders especially PTSD

Cognitive-Behavioural Treatments (CBT)

Therapy focusing on exposure and cognition, altering negative cognitions/thoughts/beliefs and the accompanying behaviors

Virtual Reality Therapy

Using VR for trauma treatment. Often used for exposure therapy in order to maintain a safe environment

Resilience Promotion

Encouraging coping skills to prevent adverse effects of stress.

Emotional Disclosure

Emotional disclosure, particularly through written expression (known as "written emotional disclosure" or WED), has been shown to have a positive impact on reducing stress and symptoms associated with stress disorders

Challenges in Trauma Research

Difficulties in studying unpredictable events. It would be unethical to cause trauma for the purposes of research, but it is also impossible to predict trauma or the nature of it before it happens. This limits the ability to study before and after effects. Persons with trauma may also be more worry of participating in research due to the painful nature of acknowledging the disorder and its cause.

Biodot

Skin thermometer used to measure stress response.

Pulse

Heart rate measurement indicating physiological stress.

Subjective Stress Measure

Personal assessment of stress feelings.

Baseline Assessment

Initial measurement before stress exposure.

Psychophysiological Study

Research examining psychological and physiological interactions.

Causality

Relationship between stressors and psychological impacts. Correlation does not mean causation. Make sure to know the difference

Phobia

Persistent, excessive fear of specific object.

Specific Phobias

Diagnoses unique to fear triggered by specific situations or objects.

Animal Phobia

Fear of specific animals or insects.

Natural Environment Phobia

Fear of natural elements like heights or storms.

Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia

Fear of blood, injections, or injuries.

Situational Phobia

Fear of specific situations like flying or elevators.

Prevalence of Phobias

Lifetime prevalence of 12% in the population.

Gender Differences in Phobias

Phobias are more common in women.

Genetic Factors in Phobias

Monozygotic twins share phobias more than dizygotic, providing empicacal support for genetics playing a role in the development of phobias.

Behaviorally Inhibited Temperament

a tendency to be fearful and cautious in new situations; linked to higher vulnerability to developing phobias.

Exposure Therapy

Preferred treatment for specific phobias where client is exposed in some was to the trigger of their phobia. Often begins with lower stakes exposure ultimately working up to higher stakes.

Social Anxiety Disorder

severe fear of scrutiny in social situations to the point that it becomes pathological.

Lifetime Prevalence of Social Anxiety

Lifetime prevalence is also 12%.

Age of Onset for Social Anxiety

Typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood.

Comorbidity in Social Anxiety

Often co-occurs with other anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

Behavior Therapy for Social Phobia

Involves exposure to feared social situations.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.

Panic Attack Symptoms

Includes 13 symptoms, mostly physical.

Agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help may not be available. Often results in people becoming more and more reclusive and in severe cases people may not ever leave the house or even a specific room.

Prevalence of Panic Disorder

4.7% of adults experience panic disorder.

Gender Differences in Panic Disorder

Twice as prevalent in women.

Average Onset of Panic Disorder

Typically occurs between ages 23-34.

Comorbidity in Panic Disorder

83% have at least one comorbid disorder.

Biological Factors in Panic Disorder

Moderate heritability and biochemical triggers involved.

Panic Control Treatment (PCT)

Very effective treatment for panic disorder. includes:

1.Education

2.Controlled Breathing

3.Thought errors

4.Expose to panic and build up tolerance

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by intrusive thoughts followed by compulsive behaviors to relieve the intrusive thoughts.

OCD Prevalence

Lifetime prevalence is 2.3%.

Age of Onset for OCD

Typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood.

Causal Factors in OCD

Includes both psychological and biological factors.

Psych:

1. two-process theory of avoidance learning

2. Attempting to suppress unwanted thoughts may increase those thoughts

Bio:

1. OCD appears moderately heritable

2. Slight structural abnormalities in the caudate nucleus and high metabolic levels in other parts of the brain

3. Serotonin is strongly implicated in OCD

Mowrer's Two-Process Theory

Neutral stimuli become associated with fearful thoughts via classical conditioning

Exposure and Response Prevention

Effective treatment for OCD. Involves exposure to the negative stimuli and source of intrusive thought and then preventing the person from performing the compulsive behavior

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Obsessive focus on perceived flaws in appearance.

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Affects 1-2% of the population.

Comorbidity with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Often co-occurs with depressive disorders.

Fear

Response to immediate threat or danger.

Anxiety

General apprehension about potential future danger and excessive worries persisting after stressor removal.

Fight or Flight Response

Evolutionary reaction that occurs within the body to perceived threats.

Panic Attack

Fear response without an actual threat present.

Three Components of Anxiety

Cognitive, physiological, and behavioral aspects.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive anxiety across various situations.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Fear of being apart from attachment figures.

Selective Mutism

Inability to speak in specific social situations.

Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety caused by drug use or withdrawal.

Lifetime Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders

Estimated at 15% across populations.

Current Point Prevalence of anxiety disorders

Estimated at 7% in the population.

Global Impact of Anxiety Disorders

264 million people affected worldwide.

Mean Age of Onset for anxiety disorders

Average onset age for anxiety disorders is 21.

Cultural Differences in Anxiety

Variations in expression and diagnosis across cultures. Different cultures may not pathologize and diagnose some or all anxiety disorders

Disability Ranking of Anxiety Disorders

6th leading cause of disability in high-income countries.

Continuum of Severity

Range from non-clinical to severe anxiety.

Anxiety as an Adaptive Mechanism

Anxiety can serve a protective function when not present at debilitating levels. Some anxiety being present would have been necessary for the evolution and survival of the species

Underdiagnosis of Anxiety Disorders

Less likely to be diagnosed compared to physical disorders.

Early Onset of Anxiety

Associated with more severe anxiety expressions.

Health Anxiety

Extreme worry about illness or symptoms. Is NOT included in the DSM-V

Hypochondria

Another term for severe health anxiety. Also not in DSM-V

Comorbidity

Presence of multiple disorders simultaneously.

Risk Factors

Characteristics increasing disease likelihood of developing a disorder.

Health Psychology

Study of health and psychological interactions.

GAD Symptoms

Includes restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and sleep issues.