PSY303 Week 6 Day 12 and Week 7 Day 13- Stress and Trauma

PSY303: Stress and Trauma Related Disorders

Week Overview

• Introduction to the concept of stress and its impacts

• Overview of stress management techniques

• Discussion of Trauma Related Disorders:

  • Acute Stress

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What is Stress?

• Definition:

  • Physiological and psychological response to both internal and external stressors.

• Effects of Stress:

  • Influences nearly every bodily system and affects feelings and behaviors.

  • Symptoms can include:

    • Palpitations

    • Sweating

    • Dry mouth

    • Shortness of breath

    • Fidgeting

    • Accelerated speech

    • Augmented negative emotions

    • Increased fatigue during prolonged stress

• Cognitive Impact:

  • Diminishes the ability to think clearly and make plans,

  • Heightens emotional responses.

• Neurological Impact:

  • Reduces neuron connections in areas like the hippocampus and frontal lobes;

  • Increases connections in the amygdala.

• Fight-or-Flight Response:

  • Body's natural response to perceived danger, preparing for confrontation or escape.

Differences Between Stress and Anxiety

• Stress:

  • Typically triggered by an external factor (short-term deadlines, interpersonal conflicts).

  • Symptoms include irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive issues, and sleep problems.

• Anxiety:

  • Defined by persistent worries without an immediate stressor; consistent symptoms like insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability.

Physiological Mechanisms Related to Stress

• Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis:

  • Activated during stress, connecting the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.

• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):

  • Involved in stress response:

    1. Sympathetic Division: Engages fight-or-flight response.

    2. Parasympathetic Division: Helps restore bodily functions and eliminate waste.

• Function of ANS:

  • Maintains homeostasis across bodily systems (heart rate, blood pressure).

  • Coordinates physical responses to stressors and exercise.

Stress Pathways and Feedback Loops

• Responses to Perceived Threat:

  1. Signal sent to the amygdala via conscious and preconscious pathways.

  2. Release of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH).

  3. Activation of the ANS leading to release of epinephrine and glucocorticoids.

  4. Initiation of fight-or-flight response.

• Chronic Stress Effects:

  • Modulates locus coeruleus affecting norepinephrine levels and CRH reactivity.

  • Genetic variations impact reactivity to stress, risking negative outcomes.

Links Between Stress and Mental Illness

• Influence of CRH variants on stress response:

  • Genetic factors leading to vulnerability.

• HPA Axis Role in Mental Disorders:

  • Linked to conditions such as:

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Bipolar Disorder

    • Psychosis in Adolescence

• Cortisol Overview:

  • Produced during stress, mobilizes energy resources.

  • Levels rise during stress and may contribute to chronic issues like depression and behavior problems.

Impact of Chronic Stress on Health

• Psychological Stress and the Immune System:

  • Chronic stress results in immunosuppression, impacting overall health.

Stress Management Techniques

• Strategies include:

  1. Recognizing Fear as Normal:

     • Fear is a universal human experience that can provide insight into feelings.

  2. Breathing Exercises:

     • Mindful breathing to calm the nervous system.

  3. Grounding Techniques:

     • Techniques to connect with the present moment and reduce anxiety.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

• New DSM-5 Classification:

  • Disorders caused by stressful life events:

    • PTSD

    • Acute Stress Disorder

    • Adjustment Disorders

    • Attachment Disorders

Acute Stress Disorder

• Definition:

  • Symptoms arising from trauma exposure:

    1. Intrusion symptoms (e.g., distressing memories).

    2. Negative mood (e.g., inability to experience happiness).

    3. Dissociative symptoms (e.g., memory lapses).

    4. Avoidance symptoms (e.g., avoiding reminders of trauma).

    5. Arousal symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances).

• Symptoms must last longer than 3 days but less than one month.

PTSD Overview

• Defining Features:

  • Trauma exposure leading to significant distress and impairment in function:

    1. Re-experiencing trauma (intrusive memories, flashbacks).

    2. Avoidance behavior.

    3. Negative cognitive and emotional alterations.

• Statistics:

  • Commonly associated with combat and sexual assault; approximately 7% of the population experiences PTSD at some point.

DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD

• Criteria based on exposure to trauma, symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and duration of over a month for diagnosis.

• Symptoms include:

  • Recurrent distressing memories.

  • Flashbacks.

  • Persistent negative emotional states or detachment from others.

Factors Impacting Trauma Response

• Risks include:

  • Intensity of trauma, biological vulnerabilities, learned responses, and lack of social support during recovery.

Treatments for PTSD

• Psychological Treatments:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Effective in addressing thoughts and behaviors.

  • Possible inclusion of narrative exposure, challenging maladaptive beliefs.

• Medications:

  • SSRIs commonly prescribed to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms.

Reflection Points on Stress and Trauma

• Upcoming assignments/assessments:

  • Mid-semester evaluations and diagnostic quizzes on mood disorders.

• Key takeaways include understanding:

  • The nature of stress and its causes.

  • The types of trauma-related disorders and effective assessment strategies.