Behavioural medicine - importance of emotional health

What is the health triad?

• physical health

• emotional health

• cognitive health

what are the engaging (positive) emotions?

• desire-seeking

• social play

• lust

• care

what are the protective (negative) emotions?

• frustration

• fear-anxiety

• pain

• panic-grief

are any emotions bad?

no - all emotions are vital for survival, they are all good in the right context

what does the seeking (desire) system involve?

• motivates animals to move to places where they have more potential of finding resources:

  • food

  • water

  • shelter

what system is object play in puppies apart of?

seeking (desire) system

what are ‘problem’ behaviours arising from seeking (desire) system?

• dogs - chasing ducks/cats/etc.

• dogs - stealing food

• cats - predation

what does the social play system involve?

• gives information to individuals about their own social competence and potential in relation to others

  • other individual not frightened by behaviour - due to communication that it is play not serious

if two animals are playing with a toy what system would this be?

• desire-seeking system

• not social play - as playing with the toy

what are ‘problem’ behaviours arising from social play system?

• different species playing - one species might not understand that its play

• different ages of animal playing - if younger animal playing with elderly animal —> could possible hurt them

what does the lust syetm involve?

• organises the specific reproductive needs, ranging from attraction or the selection of a partner through courtship to any potential bond, to mating with a sexual partner

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with lust system?

• urine marking in male dogs - may be inside house

• sexual behaviour to other dogs

• roaming - e.g. male dogs getting scent of female in oestrus and not coming back

what does the care system involve?

• dedicated to maintain the bonds to the individual offspring through a recognisable parental care or nurturance towards others

  • mothering/fathering behaviour

  • fathering behaviour not common in cats

  • looking after any vulnerable individual within or between species

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with the care system?

• false/sudo pregnancy in bitches - nest toys or objects

  • if you were to remove toys, will cause frustration

  • increase in prolactin - causes increase in anxiety

what does the fear-anxiety system involve?

• preservation of comfort via access to essential resources and management of threats to personal or resource security

  • helps animals to avoid dangers

  • animal more adaptive to feel fear and anxiety - to prevent being attacked or harmed

what are examples of good behaviours due to fear-anxiety system?

• when a puppy is at the top of stairs for the first time

• when an dog has an interaction with another dog that is not friendly / doesn’t want to play

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with fear-anxiety system?

• separation related anxiety

• animals being overly nervous at the vets

what does the pain system involve?

• maintenance of body integrity and function

• activation of this system is a response to actual or potential tissue damage

• very closely related to fear-anxiety system

what are examples of good behaviour due to the pain system?

• acute pain is functional - if stand of something sharp you move your foot

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with the pain system

• chronic pain is a disease - e.g. may be aggressive due to pain

what does the panic-grief system involve?

• triggered by lack of access to a source of nurturing

• safeguarding of survival of young

what are examples of good behaviours due to panic grief system?

• if mother leaves puppies or kittens they will often exhibit emotional arousals - so that the mother returns

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with panic-grief system?

• over attachment to owners can cause problems when separated

  • destroying furniture when left alone

  • howling

what does the frustration system involve?

• triggered by a failure to meet expectations, obtain resources or retain control

  • system intensifies and accelerates behavioural responses

  • associated with confrontational behaviours when animals don’t have control over situation, when irritated or restrained

what are examples of good behaviours due to frustration system?

what are ‘problem’ behaviours associated with frustration system?

what is the role of the frustration system?

what are the most important emotions in terms of developing clinical concerns?

• pain

• frustration

• fear (anxiety)

• panic (grief)