Comprehensive Psychology and Health: Brain, Addiction, Exercise, and Mental Disorders

What is Stress?

Discrepancy between situational demands and individual's resources.

Adolescence

Puberty → ~18 years

Categories of risk behaviours

Substance use, physical risks, unsafe sexual activity, online risks, self-harm.

Frontal lobe / Prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Executive function, decision-making, impulse control

Hindbrain:

Medulla (vital functions), pons (bridge cerebellum/brain), cerebellum (motor coordination).

Forebrain:

Neocortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia (movement), limbic system

Limbic system:

Amygdala (fear/rage), hippocampus (memory), cingulate cortex

Define addiction.

Chronic, relapsing brain disorder; compulsive drug-seeking despite harm.

What is physical dependence?

Withdrawal symptoms and tolerance to a substance.

Name 4 processes leading to dependence.

Reinforcement, avoiding withdrawal, substance-related cues, expectancies

Which personality & emotional factors contribute to dependence?

Impulsivity, high-risk-taking, low self-regulation, ACEs.

Name 3 harmful chemicals in tobacco

Tar, formaldehyde, arsenic.

Legal BAC limit

less than 0.08%

Cloninger Type I →

Later onset, men & women, easy to treat

Cloninger Type II

Early onset, mostly men, hard to treat

WHO Activity Guidelines (5-17 yrs)

60 min/day moderate-vigorous activity; muscle/bone strengthening 3x/week.

WHO Activity Guidelines (18-64 yrs)

150-300 min/week moderate OR 75-150 min vigorous; muscle strengthening 2x/week.

WHO Activity Guidelines (65+ yrs)

Same as adults + balance training 3x/week.

percent of of US adults don't meet guidelines.

86%

Barriers to Exercise

No time, no place, stress, physical limits, low motivation, social beliefs.

Who Exercises More

young adults, men, white individuals, higher SES, educated, rural residents, off-reserve First Nations.

how many people in canada are obese

25% and peak 55-65

Isotonic Exercise

Muscle force + movement; builds strength & endurance (e.g., squats, weights).

Isometric Exercise

Force without movement; builds strength (e.g., planks, wall sits).

Isokinetic Exercise

Movement at constant speed; builds strength + endurance (machines, swimming).

Max Heart Rate Formula

208 - (0.7 × age)

VO₂ Max

Max oxygen use during intense exercise; measured ml/kg/min; predicts longevity.

Skeletal Muscle Role

Largest glucose sink; exercise ↑ mitochondria & oxidative capacity; releases myokines.

Adipose Tissue Role

Exercise → fat oxidation, ↓ inflammation, ↑ insulin sensitivity, ↓ abdominal fat.

Exercise & Mental Health

↑ neuroplasticity, ↑ BDNF, ↑ impulse control; ↓ anxiety, depression symptoms.

DSM-5 Depression Criteria

1 of: depressed mood OR anhedonia + 4 symptoms for 2 weeks (sleep, fatigue, weight change, etc.).

Depression Treatments

SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs; CBT; ECT; TMS.

Exercise vs Medication

All reduce depression, but exercise has lowest relapse (9%) vs meds (33%).

Complications of anorexia?

low metabolism, bradycardia, hypotension, anemia, hypothermia.

Mortality rate in anorexia?

10-15%;

Relapse rate in anorexia?

35%.

Bulimia prevalence?

1-3% of women.

Bulimia complications?

Esophagus damage, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance.

What is pica?

Eating non-food items

What is rumination disorder?

repeated regurgitation of food

What is ARFID?

Avoiding foods due to sensory issues, fear of choking, or low appetite.

BMI ranges?

<18.5 underweight; 18.5-24.9 normal; 25-29.9 overweight; 30+ obese.

Canadians experience a mental health disorder

1 in 5

Major depression affects

5.4% of Canadians;

When do mental illness symptoms usually begin?

18 or under

% Canadian students cyberbullied

19% experienced cyberbullying in the past year.

SAS-SV

Validated Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version used to assess problematic smartphone use.

Predictors of cyberbullying involvement

Self-disclosure, social media addiction, many followers, low empathy, sadism, low self-esteem, depression, childhood trauma.

How many suicides per year in Canada?

4,500 deaths/year

What is a pathogen?

Disease-causing agent (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite).

Three lines of immune defense?

Skin/mucous → innate immunity → adaptive immunity.

Gonorrhea pathogen?

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (bacteria)

Major complications of gonorrhea?

PID, infertility, ↑ HIV risk.

Chlamydia pathogen?

Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria).

Key complications of chlamydia?

PID, infertility, eye inflammation/blindness.

What is PID?

Infection of female reproductive organs → infertility, ectopic pregnancy.

Trichomoniasis pathogen?

Trichomonas vaginalis (protozoan parasite).

Why is trichomoniasis important?

Often asymptomatic; ↑ HIV transmission risk.

Syphilis pathogen?

Treponema pallidum (bacteria).

Stages of syphilis?

Primary chancre → secondary rash → latent → tertiary (brain/heart damage).

What is HIV/AIDS?

Virus destroying immune system; spread by blood/semen; chronic.

What is HAART?

Highly active antiretroviral therapy

use at least 3 drugs for HIV

What is cervical dysplasia (CIN)?

Abnormal cervical cell growth (CIN-1 → CIN-3).

Herpes (HSV-1/HSV-2) main features?

Chronic, incurable; painful recurrent sores.

Hepatitis B transmission?

Blood + bodily fluids; vaccine available.