Psychophysiological Disorders

Psychosomatic Disorders

Psychological Factors and physical states

Psychology is causing or effecting physical states

Psychophysiology Disorders or Psychosomatic Disorder

Disorder where psychological states of affairs causes (partially or totally) actual physical pathology

Difference between psychosomatic and conversion disorder

Psychosomatic has actual pathology, something that can me diagnosed by a doctor

Diseases of Study

Stress → Ulcers

Type A personality → Cardiac Heart Disease

Depression → Immune deficiency

Stress → Asthma

Type A Personality

People who live their lives as Hostile, Angry, Aggressive, Competitive, Ambitious, Driven, Time Urgent

Usually all factors

Type B Personality

Relaxed, Easy Going, Chill

Stress

A situation where something of vital interest to person is at stake but person has some doubt that they can succeed in securing those interests (positive events can be stressful)

Holmes and Rahe

Social readjustment scale

Key Finding: The more stress points a person has in current and recent life, the greater the probability that he or she will become physically ill

Topping the list is death of a spouse and divorce

Diathesis

Biological vulnerability in person that predisposes person to certain disorders when person is stressed

Ex: Ulcers (weak stomach lining, presence of bacteria, chronic inflammation)

The Diathesis Stress Model

For many disorders it takes a combination of stress and diathesis to produce the disorder, either is not sufficient

Severe or Prolonged Stress

May result in physical pathology even if person has no diathesis

Ex: Type A behavior