Chapter 9

Acute Stress Disorder

A short-term psychological response to trauma, occurring within 3 days to 4 weeks after the event.

Adjustment Disorder

Emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressor, lasting less than 6 months.

Adrenal Corticosteroids

The entire group of hormones made by the adrenal cortex (outer layer of the adrenal glands) that are released into the bloodstream to help your body respond to stress by controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation, regulating immune responses, and sodium and water balance, which regulates blood pressure.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that triggers adrenal glands to release adrenal corticosteroids.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events during childhood linked to greater risk for diseases and mental health problems in adulthood.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

A treatment for PTSD involving repeated exposure to trauma reminders and emotional processing.

Cognitive Reappraisal

Reframing or changing the way one thinks about a stressor to reduce its emotional impact.

Coping

Efforts to manage, tolerate, or reduce stress.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)

A hormone released by the hypothalamus that starts the body’s stress response by telling the pituitary gland to release another hormone (Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone ACTH)

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional reactions to stress rather than changing the stressor itself.

Endorphins

Natural opioids that reduce pain and promote feelings of euphoria during stress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

PTSD treatment involving recalling trauma while performing guided eye movements.

Fear Network

A memory system involving trauma-related cues, emotions, and escape behaviors.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Immediate physical reaction to a threat that prepares the body to fight or flee.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The three-stage stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Glucocorticoids

A type of adrenal corticosteroid made by the adrenal cortex (outer layer of the adrenal glands) and released into the bloodstream during stress. They help the body survive by increasing blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and suppressing the immune system.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

A system that controls reactions to stress and regulates body processes like digestion and immune response.

Immunosuppression

Weakening of the immune system due to chronic stress.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A disorder characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood changes, and heightened arousal after trauma.

Primary Appraisal

Initial evaluation of whether an event is harmful, threatening, or challenging.

Problem-Focused Coping

Tackling a stressor directly by finding solutions.

Social Support

Perception or reality of being cared for and having help from others.

Exhaustion Stage (GAS)

Final stage of stress response when the body's resources are depleted, leading to fatigue and illness.

Resistance Stage (GAS)

Stage where the body adapts and resists the effects of the stressor.

Classical and Operant Conditioning

Learning processes that explain how PTSD and phobias can form through trauma and reinforcement.

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

A measure of how individuals appraise situations in their life as stressful.

Problem-Focused Coping

Actively addressing/changing situations to resolve the source of the stress.

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological change and personal growth after trauma.

Resilience

The ability to recover quickly and maintain well-being after adversity.

Coping Self-Efficacy

Confidence in one’s ability to handle stressful situations effectively.

Adjustment Disorder

A mild mental disorder where emotional responses to a stressor are stronger than expected but resolve within 6 months.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that activates the body’s "fight or flight" response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that restores the body to a calm, resting state after stress.

Fear Network Activation

Triggering of trauma-related memories or sensations, leading to stress reactions like escape behavior.

Two-Factor Theory of PTSD

Suggests PTSD symptoms arise from classical conditioning (fear) and operant conditioning (avoidance behaviors).

Glucocorticoids' Role

These stress hormones bind to immune cells (white blood cells) and slow down their activity to save energy during stress, but long-term exposure can weaken the immune system

Exposure Therapy

Psychological treatment that involves confronting trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations.

Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, account for what percentage of adults diagnosed with this disorder?

 

80%

More women than men are diagnosed with PTSD by a factor of close to

2

The lifetime prevalence of exposure to at least one traumatic event is estimated as high as

90%