Introduction to Health Psychology and Psychological Disorders

Health psychology

Studies how health, illness, and behavior interact.

Stress

The process of responding to challenges or threats.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, linked to chronic stress.

Immune suppression

Stress weakens the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to illness.

Stressors

Events that cause stress.

Eustress (motivating)

Positive stress that enhances performance (e.g., sports competition).

Distress (debilitating)

Negative stress that harms well-being (e.g., financial issues).

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Childhood trauma that affects long-term health.

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Three-stage stress response model.

Alarm reaction phase

Sympathetic nervous system activation (fight-or-flight).

Resistance phase

Body remains alert to cope with stress.

Exhaustion phase

If stress persists, resources deplete, increasing vulnerability to illness.

Flight-flight-freeze response

Automatic response to danger.

Tend-and-befriend theory

Women may respond to stress by seeking social support.

Problem-focused coping

Addressing the stressor directly.

Emotion-focused coping

Managing emotional distress.

Positive psychology

The study of strengths and virtues that enable human flourishing.

Well-being

A measure of life satisfaction and happiness.

Resilience

The ability to recover from adversity.

Positive emotions

Feelings like joy and gratitude that enhance well-being.

Gratitude

Expressing thankfulness, which correlates with increased happiness.

Positive subjective experiences

Internal experiences of well-being.

Positive objective experiences

External factors like financial stability that impact well-being.

Signature strengths

A person's most prominent positive traits.

Virtues

Qualities that contribute to a good life.

Happiness

A state of contentment and fulfillment.

Subjective well-being

A person's perception of their happiness.

Categories of virtues

Six broad strengths in positive psychology: Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence.

Posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological changes resulting from adversity.

Dysfunction

Impairment in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning.

Distress

Psychological suffering.

Deviation from the social norm

Behavior that significantly differs from societal expectations.

Cultural/societal norms

Socially accepted behaviors.

Stigma

Negative stereotypes about mental illness.

Racism

Discrimination based on race.

Sexism

Discrimination based on gender.

Ageism

Discrimination based on age.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment based on certain characteristics.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The primary U.S. classification system for mental disorders.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

The global diagnostic system for mental disorders.

Eclectic approach

Using multiple perspectives to diagnose and treat disorders.

Behavioral perspective

Focuses on learned behaviors as the cause of mental disorders.

Maladaptive learned associations

Learned behaviors that negatively impact mental health.

Psychodynamic perspective

Emphasizes unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Humanistic perspective

Focuses on personal growth and self-fulfillment.

Cognitive perspective

Examines how thoughts influence emotions and behaviors.

Evolutionary perspective

Looks at how mental disorders may have been adaptive in the past.

Sociocultural perspective

Examines the influence of social and cultural factors.

Biological perspective

Focuses on genetic, neurological, and physiological influences.

Biopsychosocial model

A combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis-stress model

Mental disorders develop from genetic predispositions combined with environmental stress.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Disorders affecting brain development.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Characterized by inattention and impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A disorder marked by social difficulties and repetitive behaviors.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Disorders involving hallucinations and delusions.

Delusions

False beliefs.

Delusions of persecution

Belief that one is being targeted or harassed.

Delusions of grandeur

Belief that one has exceptional abilities or importance.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without stimuli.

Disorganized thinking

Incoherent thought patterns.

Disorganized speech

Jumbled speech that lacks meaning.

Disorganized motor behavior

Unusual physical movements.

Negative symptoms

Absence of normal behaviors (e.g., lack of emotion).

Positive symptoms

Excess or distortion of normal function (e.g., hallucinations).

Word salad

Jumbled speech.

Catatonia

Abnormal motor behavior.

Flat affect

Lack of emotional expression.

Catatonic stupor

Immobility or lack of response.

Dopamine hypothesis

The theory that schizophrenia is linked to excess dopamine.

Depressive disorders

Mood disorders involving sadness and loss of interest.

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent sadness and loss of pleasure.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Chronic low-grade depression.

Bipolar disorders

Disorders involving extreme mood swings.

Cycling

Alternating between depressive and manic states.

Mania

A state of euphoria, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Depression

A state of sadness and low energy.

Bipolar I Disorder

Characterized by severe manic episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

Characterized by hypomania and depression.

Anxiety disorders

Excessive fear or anxiety.

Specific phobia

An irrational fear of a particular object or situation.

Acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders.

Agoraphobia

Fear of open spaces or crowds.

Panic disorder

Characterized by panic attacks.

Panic attack

Sudden onset of intense fear.

Ataque de nervios

A culturally specific panic-like disorder.

Social anxiety disorder

Fear of social situations.

Taijin kyofusho

Japanese social anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Persistent, excessive worry.

Obsessions

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors driven by obsessions.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions.

Hoarding disorder

Difficulty discarding possessions.

Evidence-based interventions

Scientifically supported treatments.

Cultural humility

Awareness of cultural influences in therapy.

Therapeutic alliance

The bond between therapist and client.

Nonmaleficence

Avoiding harm in therapy.

Fidelity

Maintaining professional standards.

Integrity

Honesty in psychological practice.

Respect for people's rights and dignity

Ethical principle in therapy.