Exam 1

APA Division 38

The official division of Health Psychology within the American Psychological Association, established in 1978

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A core psychological orientation showing that human behaviors affect feelings, feelings affect behavior, and thoughts drive both. Integrates affect (emotions), behavior, and cognition to treat the whole person

Behavioral Medicine

An interdisciplinary field applying evidence-based behavioral, social, and spiritual services to help individuals who are diseased. Operates primarily at the secondary and tertiary levels of prevention

Primary Prevention

Preventive clinical or behavioral interventions conducted on healthy populations to keep them healthy

Secondary Prevention

Early intervention targeted at individuals exhibiting early signs/symptoms of disease to prevent full-blown pathology

Tertiary Prevention

Standard treatment or rehabilitation interventions designed to manage active clinical diagnoses, prevent decline, and stop death

Integrative Medicine

The clinical integration of mainstream conventional medical therapies with evidence-based CAM therapies. Treats the whole person by combining behavioral strategies with traditional biomedicine

Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Healthcare practices, products, and therapies not historically considered part of conventional medicine

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

The federal government agency under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that sponsors high-quality CAM research

Universal Healthcare / Socialized Medicine

Unified healthcare systems where citizens pay taxes to public health, making medical access free at the point of delivery

Medicare

A federally funded US health insurance program designed specifically for individuals aged 65 and older

Medicaid

A state-level funded US health insurance program that provides coverage to low-income adults and children

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

Landmark 2010 US health reform law designed to narrow the healthcare disparity gap and get more individuals insured

Healthcare GDP Expenditure

The percentage of gross domestic product spent on healthcare in the United States; By 2022, a staggering 20% of all US spending went toward healthcare (1 out of every 5 dollars)

Per Capita US Healthcare Spending

The amount of money spent on healthcare per individual in the United States annually; Rose from $1,000 in the 1980s to $12,500 per person in 2023 (more than double the world average of $5,000)

US Healthcare Performance Ranking

The World Health Organization's metrics comparing national healthcare performance and overall health; The US ranks 37th in healthcare performance and 72nd in overall health among industrialized nations

Health Disparities

Systemic inequalities in healthcare access where the "have-nots" fall along lines of race, geography, gender, and low income

Biomedical Model

The traditional medical framework focusing strictly on biological diagnoses, medications, and surgeries to correct localized bodily systems

Biopsychospiritual Model

A holistic healthcare model that evaluates physical health across biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

A modern psychotherapeutic framework that focuses on helping clients clarify and commit to their core values

True North

An ACT concept representing a values-driven life path that leads to meaningful, holistic living

Dean Ornish Cardiac Rehab Study

A comprehensive lifestyle program demonstrating that coronary artery plaque can be successfully reversed without surgery; Plant-based vegan diet, exercise, meditation, and support groups; cost $10,000/year vs. $90k–$150k for bypass surgery

Nurses' Health Study

A long-term longitudinal tracking study evaluating the health-protective impact of lifestyle choices in women; Following 5 habits (no tobacco, daily exercise, healthy BMI, clean diet, moderate alcohol) slashed CHD risk by 82%

Doula Labor Support Study

A randomized controlled trial of 204 laboring women examining the clinical impact of continuous professional labor support; Slashed epidural requests by 85%, shortened labor by 2 hours, and cut C-section rates by 56% for a cost of $200

Claudia Jard ER Vignette Study

Evaluated ER physicians' ability to accurately diagnose psychological crises presenting with physical chest pain symptoms; Only 72% correctly diagnosed major depression, and only 33% caught panic disorder (most misdiagnosed it as tachycardia)

ER Chest Pain Screener Study

Evaluated real ER chest pain patients whose heart attacks were ruled out, administering a quick psychological diagnostic screener; Found that 17.5% suffered from panic disorder and 23% suffered from major depression

Prime MD

A rapid, one-page screening tool filled out by patients in primary care to detect the most common psychological disorders

Kaiser Permanente HMO Study

Analyzed the medical cost savings of routing somatic patients with psychological distress to health psychologists; Distressed patients given brief consultations with a health psychologist reduced their medical costs by 17%

Dr. Judy Palaha Pediatric Study

Evaluated the impact of integrating pediatric psychologists into rural primary care clinics via "warm handoffs”; Freed pediatricians to see more medical patients, increased clinic billing, and achieved high parental satisfaction

Maka Emo Honors Thesis

Evaluated the prevalence of interpersonal dating violence and sexual assault and its physical health impacts on college women; Found 47% experienced violence; polyvictimization served as the strongest predictor of somatization and suicidal ideation

Kiecolt-Glaser Caregiver Study

Investigated the physical toll of chronic caregiver psychological stress on cellular tissue healing in Alzheimer's caregivers; Standardized skin wounds healed significantly slower in caregivers than in age-matched non-caregiver controls

Placebo Study Office Visit Decline

A randomized trial measuring the impact of a stress management program on subsequent primary care office visits; The treatment group decreased office visits by 70%; the untreated control group (who knew they were in a study) saw a 26% decline

Preterm Infant Grounding Study

Grounding premature babies in the NICU by connecting an electrode patch to the hospital's grounding system; Grounding raised parasympathetic tone and increased vagal tone and heart rate variability (HRV) by 67% within minutes

University of Salzburg DOMS Study

Investigated the therapeutic effect of grounded sleeping on recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); Grounded sleeping produced faster recovery and significantly lower chemical markers of muscle damage and inflammation

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLCs)

Roger Walsh's framework of 8 evidence-based lifestyle factors that protect cognitive function and treat psychopathology; Focuses on exercise, nutrition, nature, relationships, recreation, relaxation, spiritual involvement, and contribution

Exercise (TLC 1)

Aerobic and resistance training that treats mild-to-moderate depression quicker than medication and improves memory; Increases brain volume (gray and white matter), increases blood flow, and upregulates BDNF in the hippocampus

Food & Nutrition (TLC 2)

Dietary habits (food selection and supplements) that protect against age-related cognitive decline and treat major mood disorders; Features the colorful "Rainbow Diet" and the "Pescovegetarian Diet" high in essential fatty acids

Nature (TLC 3)

Reconnecting with natural environments to improve cognitive functioning, restore attention span, and experience silence; Counteracts the cognitive fatigue, problematic sleep, and attention deficits caused by artificial indoor environments

Relationships (TLC 4)

Rich, intimate social connections that reduce health risks, foster resilience, and buffer against disease and isolation; The health risks of social isolation are comparable to the dangers of smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity

Recreation (TLC 5)

Involvement in enjoyable, playful, humorous, or aesthetic activities to increase positive emotions and behavioral reinforcement; Mitigates stress, enhances mood, supports immune function, and promotes psychological growth over time

Relaxation & Stress Management (TLC 6)

Utilizing somatic (progressive muscle relaxation) and contemplative (meditation, yoga) skills to calm the nervous system; Quiets thoughts and feelings, calms muscle tension, and shifts the autonomic nervous system into parasympathetic dominance

Religious & Spiritual Involvement (TLC 7)

Coping with stress and illness through spiritual beliefs centered on love and forgiveness; Weekly attendance at services is associated with living an average of seven years longer, heavily mediated by social support

Contribution & Service (TLC 8)

Altruism and volunteering to reduce egocentricity, greed, and jealousy, and activate neurological pleasure centers; Volunteering is statistically associated with happier, healthier, and longer lives

BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)

A neurotrophic protein essential for neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and neuronal preservation in the hippocampus; Upregulated naturally by physical exercise and pharmacologically by standard antidepressant medications

Rainbow Diet

A dietary approach emphasizing the regular consumption of highly colorful, brightly pigmented plant foods; Human color vision evolved to detect brightly pigmented fruits/vegetables, which contain the densest vitamins and micronutrients

Pescovegetarian Diet

A plant-based diet supplemented with cold, deep-seawater fish; Maximizes essential nutrient intake while reducing calories, helping protect against gray-matter brain shrinkage

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EPA/DHA) critical to neural development and standard anti-inflammatory cell function; A 1.2g daily dose reduced progression to full psychosis in high-risk youth from 27.5% to just 4.9%

Vitamin D

A multipurpose hormone synthesized via skin exposure to sunlight; critical for central nervous system health; Functions as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotectant; low levels are linked to cognitive decline and major depression

Technopathies

Cognitive and attention deficits caused by heavy digital immersion, constant screen use, and work demands

Digital Fog

A state of cognitive exhaustion, memory lapses, and mental fatigue caused by heavy screen use and media immersion; Drains cognitive reserves, restricts deep focus, and compromises long-term memory integration

Frazzing

A technopathology describing frantic, ineffectual multitasking driven by constant digital notifications and screen immersion; Escalates physiological stress and fragments executive planning and coordination functions

Hyperreality

Jean Baudrillard's concept of a simulated lifeworld constructed by media images and screens that feels more real than physical reality; Distorts perception, causing people to respond to 24/7 manufactured news loops rather than natural events

Therapeutic Alliance

The collaborative, trusting relationship built between a psychotherapist and their client; Accounts for approximately one-third of all clinical outcome variance in psychotherapy, regardless of therapy type

Michelangelo Phenomenon

The interpersonal process where romantic partners physically and psychologically sculpt one another over time

Social Capital

The collective sum benefit of social networks, civic community connections, trust, and mutual reciprocity; Positively correlates with reduced crime, lower drug abuse, and increased individual physical and mental health status

Locus of Control

An individual’s belief system regarding whether life outcomes are determined by their own actions (internal) vs. outside forces (external); An internal locus is healthiest for school/career, but a supportive external locus (trust in a loving higher power) is protective in spiritual coping

Wounded Healers

Altruistic healthcare professionals who enter helping fields because of their own history of trauma, physical illness, or psychological wounds

Professional Deformation

A cognitive distortion where professional pressures and routines restrict a clinician’s perception and reasoning process; Defaults medical providers to brief 15-minute pharmaceutical "med checks" at the expense of psychotherapeutic or lifestyle counseling

Rosenthal Effect

The self-fulfilling power of interpersonal expectations; A therapist's positive or negative expectations regarding a patient’s ability to execute lifestyle changes directly shapes the clinical outcome

Zeta Potential

The negative electrical charge on the surface of red blood cells that regulates blood viscosity and clumping; Grounding increases zeta potential by ~270% within 2 hours, acting as a natural blood thinner and reducing cardiovascular risk

Neutrophils

White blood cells that migrate to injury sites to encapsulate damaged cells and release free radicals to destroy dead tissue; White blood cells that migrate to injury sites to encapsulate damaged cells and release free radicals to destroy dead tissue

Free radicals

Positively charged reactive oxygen species (ROS) that strip electrons from healthy tissue, resulting in damage and chronic inflammation; Grounding permits free electrons to enter the body and immediately neutralize these free radicals, quenching silent inflammation

Vagal Tone

A critical measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation; governs the body's anti-inflammatory reflex; Grounding premature infants in the NICU increased their vagal tone and heart rate variability by 67% within minutes

Clint Ober

A retired cable TV executive who discovered grounding by applying cable noise-reduction and grounding principles to human health; Ran a copper wire out a window to a ground rod, taped metal duct tape to his bed, and realized it immediately cured his chronic pain

Synthetic Rubber Shoes

Insulating shoe materials popularized in the 1960s (Nike/Adidas tennis shoes) that disconnected humans from the Earth's electric field; This "loss of electrical ground" is hypothesized to correlate with the modern global rise of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions