Unit 5 Psychology Test Review

I. Introduction to Health Psychology

Health psychology is a subfield of psychology focused on how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness. It aims to understand how patients handle illness, why some individuals do not follow medical advice, and the most effective ways to control pain or change poor health habits.

• Psychoneuroimmunology: Examines the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems.

  • Stress impairs immune system functioning by diverting energy from disease-fighting mechanisms (e.g., B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, and NK cells).

  • Although stress does not directly cause disease, it can weaken the body and influence disease progression.

II. Understanding Stress

Stress is the process of appraising and responding to threatening or challenging events (stressors). It is not simply a stimulus or response but a process involving perception and coping.

• Types of Stressors:

  • Eustress: Positive stress that can motivate and improve performance.

  • Distress: Negative stress with potentially harmful effects.

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Early trauma that affects lifelong health.

  • Catastrophes: Unpredictable large-scale events (e.g., natural disasters).

  • Significant Life Changes: Major transitions (e.g., divorce, death).

  • Daily Hassles: Everyday irritations (e.g., traffic, deadlines).

• Health Effects of Stress:

  • Increases susceptibility to illness.

  • Contributes to unhealthy lifestyle choices.

  • Linked to cardiovascular issues (e.g., heart disease, hypertension).

  • Suppresses immune system function.

III. General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye)

Hans Selye proposed a three-phase model to describe the body’s adaptive response to stress:

1. Alarm Reaction: Sympathetic nervous system activates; body prepares to fight or flee.

2. Resistance: Body maintains a heightened state of arousal to confront the stressor.

3. Exhaustion: Prolonged stress depletes resources, increasing vulnerability to illness or death.

IV. Coping Mechanisms

Coping involves cognitive, emotional, and behavioral efforts to manage stress.

• Problem-Focused Coping: Addressing the problem causing the stress.

• Emotion-Focused Coping: Managing emotional responses to the stressor.

Coping success is influenced by personal control, explanatory style, and social support.

V. Positive Psychology

Positive psychology emphasizes the study of human flourishing and well-being.

• Subjective Well-Being: An individual’s self-perceived happiness and life satisfaction.

• Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon: Happiness increases helpful behaviors.

• Happiness Strategies:

  • Practice gratitude.

  • Build strong social relationships.

  • Exercise and sleep well.

  • Engage in meaningful work.

  • Practice mindfulness and spirituality.

• Adaptation-Level Phenomenon: People adapt to new circumstances, and their emotional baseline resets.

• Relative Deprivation: Feeling worse off by comparison with others.

VI. Psychological Disorders

A psychological disorder is a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.

• Three D’s of Diagnosis:

  • Dysfunction: Impairs functioning.

  • Distress: Causes significant discomfort.

  • Deviance: Unusual or culturally atypical behavior.

• Models of Understanding:

  • Medical Model: Disorders have physical causes.

  • Biopsychosocial Model: Disorders result from biological, psychological, and social factors.

  • Diathesis-Stress Model: Genetic predisposition + environmental stress = disorder.

VII. DSM-5 Classification System

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is the primary classification tool for psychological disorders in the U.S.

• Describes over 400 disorders.

• Provides prevalence, symptoms, and treatment frameworks.

• Criticisms include over-diagnosis, stigma, and labeling.

VIII. Major Disorder Categories and Key Features

1. Neurodevelopmental Disorders:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Impairment in social interaction and repetitive behaviors.

• ADHD: Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.

2. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders:

• Positive Symptoms: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech/behavior.

• Negative Symptoms: Flat affect, alogia, social withdrawal.

3. Mood Disorders:

• Major Depressive Disorder: Persistent sadness, anhedonia, cognitive impairment.

• Persistent Depressive Disorder: Chronic low mood.

• Bipolar Disorder:

  • Bipolar I: Full manic and depressive episodes.

  • Bipolar II: Hypomania with depressive episodes.

4. Anxiety Disorders:

• GAD, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders:

• OCD: Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

• Related: Hoarding, Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

6. Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders:

• PTSD: Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance.

7. Dissociative Disorders:

• DID, Dissociative Amnesia, Fugue State.

8. Eating Disorders:

• Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder.

9. Personality Disorders:

• Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal.

• Cluster B: Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic.

• Cluster C: Avoidant, Dependent, OCPD.

IX. Treatments of Psychological Disorders

1. Psychotherapy:

• Psychodynamic Therapy: Uncover unconscious conflicts (Freud).

• Cognitive Therapy: Restructure negative thought patterns.

• Behavior Therapy:

  • Exposure Therapy, Systematic Desensitization, Aversion Therapy.

• Humanistic Therapy: Focuses on self-growth and self-actualization.

• CBT: Combination of cognitive and behavioral strategies.

2. Biomedical Therapy:

• Medication, ECT, psychosurgery.

3. Eclectic Approach:

• Integration of multiple therapeutic techniques tailored to the patient.

4. Ethical Considerations:

• Confidentiality, informed consent, nonmaleficence, respect for rights and dignity.

X. Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth

• Resilience: Capacity to recover and adapt after adversity.

• Post-Traumatic Growth: Positive psychological change after trauma. 🌿 Unit 5: Mental & Physical Health — Study Guide

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  🧠 1. Health Psychology & Stress

  Health Psychology

  • Focuses on how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness.

  • Psychoneuroimmunology: studies interaction between mind and immune system.

  What is Stress?

  • Stress = the process of perceiving and responding to a threat (stressor).

    • Eustress: positive, growth-oriented stress

    • Distress: harmful, overwhelming stress

  • Types of Stressors:

    • ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

    • Catastrophes

    • Life changes (e.g., divorce)

    • Daily hassles (e.g., traffic, tech issues)

  General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) – Hans Selye

  1. Alarm – SNS activation

  2. Resistance – hormonal release, high engagement

  3. Exhaustion – depleted resources, illness risk

  Stress Consequences

  • Weakens immune response

  • Linked to heart disease, hypertension, insomnia

  • Can accelerate aging (telomere shortening)

  • Increases inflammation (→ depression, heart issues)

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  ❤ 2. Coping & Mental Wellness

  Coping Strategies

  • Problem-focused: target the issue directly

  • Emotion-focused: manage emotional response

  Positive Psychology

  • Study of human flourishing

  • Promotes subjective well-being, optimism, and resilience

  Boosting Happiness

  • Exercise, sleep, relationships, meaningful work

  • Feel-good, do-good phenomenon: happier people tend to help others more

  Adaptation & Comparison

  • Adaptation-level phenomenon: we adjust to new norms

  • Relative deprivation: unhappiness when comparing ourselves to others

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  🧬 3. Understanding Psychological Disorders

  Defining Disorders

  • Must be dysfunctional, distressing, or deviant

  • APA (DSM-5) classifies 400+ disorders

  Models of Disorders

  • Medical model: mental illness = physical cause

  • Biopsychosocial model: integrates biology, psychology, and social factors

  • Diathesis-Stress Model: genetic predisposition + stress = disorder onset

  Perspectives on Disorders

  Perspective	Belief
  Psychodynamic	Unconscious childhood conflict
  Humanistic	Blocked self-actualization
  Behavioral	Learned behaviors
  Cognitive	Faulty thinking
  Sociocultural	Cultural/environmental stress
  Biomedical	Brain chemistry/genetics
  Evolutionary	Adaptive traits gone awry

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  🧩 4. Types of Disorders (DSM Categories)

  Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): social and communication deficits, repetitive behaviors

  • ADHD: inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsivity

  Schizophrenia Spectrum

  • Symptoms:

    • Positive: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech

    • Negative: flat affect, low motivation

  • Causes: dopamine imbalance, brain abnormalities, genetics, prenatal factors

  Mood Disorders

  • Major Depressive Disorder: sadness, low energy, cognitive issues

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder: long-lasting low mood

  • Bipolar I/II: cycling between depression and mania/hypomania

  Anxiety Disorders

  • GAD: constant worry, physical symptoms

  • Panic Disorder: sudden intense fear, physical panic attacks

  • Phobias: intense, irrational fear of specific objects/situations

  • Social Anxiety: fear of social evaluation

  Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders

  • OCD: obsessions + compulsions

  • Related: Hoarding, Body Dysmorphic Disorder

  Trauma-Related Disorders

  • PTSD: after trauma — flashbacks, avoidance, anxiety

  Dissociative Disorders

  • DID: multiple identities

  • Dissociative Amnesia: memory loss not due to injury

  • Fugue: sudden travel + amnesia

  Eating Disorders

  • Anorexia Nervosa: underweight, body dysmorphia

  • Bulimia Nervosa: binge-purge cycles

  • Binge-Eating Disorder: excessive eating, no purging

  Personality Disorders

  • Cluster A (odd/eccentric): paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal

  • Cluster B (dramatic): borderline, narcissistic, antisocial, histrionic

  • Cluster C (anxious): avoidant, dependent, OCPD

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  💊 5. Treatments for Disorders

  Types of Therapy

  • Psychodynamic: unconscious conflict (Freud)

  • Cognitive: changing faulty thoughts

  • Behavioral: unlearn maladaptive behaviors (conditioning)

  • Humanistic: self-growth (Rogers)

  • Biomedical: medication, brain intervention

  • Eclectic: mix of methods

  Techniques

  • CBT: combines cognitive & behavioral strategies

  • Systematic Desensitization: gradual exposure to fears

  • Aversion Therapy: pair negative stimulus with behavior

  • Token Economies: reinforce desired behavior with rewards

  Ethics in Therapy

  • Nonmaleficence, fidelity, integrity, respect

  • Must prioritize client well-being and dignity

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  🎯 Tips for Studying

  • Use flashcards for key terms (e.g., GAS stages, types of disorders)

  • Compare disorders across different axes (onset, symptoms, treatments)

  • Watch videos linked in the slides to reinforce concepts

  • Create a mental map of the DSM categories

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  🧠 Unit 5: Mental & Physical Health — Comprehensive Study Guide

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  I. Introduction to Health Psychology

  Health Psychology is a subfield of psychology that explores how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness.

  • Studies the mind-body connection and its influence on wellness.

  • Closely associated with psychoneuroimmunology: the study of how psychological factors affect the immune system.

  Key Concepts:

  • Stress reduces immune functioning by impairing lymphocyte activity.

  • Chronic stress can influence disease progression but does not directly cause disease.

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  II. Stress and Its Effects

  Definition of Stress:

  Stress is the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging.

  Types of Stressors:

  • Eustress: beneficial, motivating

  • Distress: harmful, overwhelming

  • Categories:

    • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

    • Catastrophes (e.g., natural disasters)

    • Major Life Changes (e.g., divorce)

    • Daily Hassles (e.g., traffic)

  Health Consequences of Chronic Stress:

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Suppressed immunity

  • High blood pressure

  • Accelerated aging (e.g., shortened telomeres)

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  III. Models of Stress Response

  Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

  1. Alarm: sympathetic nervous system activation

  2. Resistance: full physiological engagement

  3. Exhaustion: depleted reserves → vulnerability to illness

  Personality & Disease:

  • Type A: competitive, aggressive, high risk for heart disease

  • Type B: relaxed, less prone to stress-related illness

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  IV. Coping with Stress

  Types of Coping:

  • Problem-focused coping: tackling the source

  • Emotion-focused coping: managing emotional response

  Influences on Coping:

  • Perceived control

  • Optimism

  • Social support

  • Tend-and-befriend vs. withdrawal (gender-based tendencies)

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  V. Positive Psychology

  • Focuses on human strengths and virtues

  • Studies subjective well-being, resilience, and post-traumatic growth

  Ways to Increase Happiness:

  • Exercise, gratitude, sleep, close relationships, spiritual engagement

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  VI. Defining Psychological Disorders

  Criteria for Psychological Disorders:

  • Deviant: outside cultural norms

  • Distressing: causes discomfort

  • Dysfunctional: interferes with daily life

  DSM-5 & ICD-11:

  • Diagnostic tools for classification of mental health conditions

  • DSM-5 is U.S.-based; ICD-11 is globally used

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  VII. Etiological Models

  Medical Model:

  • Disorders have biological origins (e.g., neurotransmitters, brain structures)

  Biopsychosocial Model:

  • Disorders result from an interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors

  Diathesis-Stress Model:

  • Disorders arise from a genetic predisposition (diathesis) and environmental stressors

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  VIII. Major Disorders & Treatments

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  1. Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  A. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Impaired social communication

  • Repetitive behaviors

  • Early onset

  • Commonly co-occurs with intellectual disability

  Medications:

  • Risperidone, Aripiprazole (for irritability and aggression)

  B. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity

  • More prevalent in males

  Medications:

  • Stimulants: Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), Amphetamine salts (Adderall)

  • Non-stimulants: Atomoxetine (Strattera)

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  2. Schizophrenia Spectrum & Psychotic Disorders

  Schizophrenia

  • Positive symptoms: delusions, hallucinations

  • Negative symptoms: flat affect, apathy

  • Onset typically in late adolescence/early adulthood

  Causes:

  • Dopamine overactivity

  • Brain abnormalities (enlarged ventricles, smaller thalamus)

  • Genetic predisposition

  Medications:

  • Antipsychotics:

    • First generation: Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine

    • Second generation: Risperidone, Olanzapine, Clozapine (for treatment-resistant cases)

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  3. Mood Disorders

  A. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Low mood, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal ideation

  Medications:

  • SSRIs: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft)

  • SNRIs: Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

  • Tricyclics: Amitriptyline

  • MAOIs: Phenelzine (rare, dietary restrictions)

  B. Bipolar Disorders

  • Bipolar I: full manic episodes + depressive episodes

  • Bipolar II: hypomania + depression

  Medications:

  • Mood stabilizers: Lithium (gold standard)

  • Anticonvulsants: Valproate (Depakote), Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

  • Atypical antipsychotics: Olanzapine, Quetiapine

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  4. Anxiety Disorders

  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Persistent, uncontrollable worry

  Medications:

  • SSRIs: Paroxetine, Escitalopram

  • Buspirone (non-benzo anti-anxiety)

  • Benzodiazepines (e.g., Lorazepam – for short-term use only)

  Panic Disorder

  • Sudden, intense episodes of fear with physical symptoms

  Medications:

  • SSRIs

  • Benzodiazepines (short-term)

  • Beta-blockers (for somatic symptoms)

  Phobias

  • Irrational fear of objects/situations

  Treatment:

  • Systematic desensitization

  • SSRIs (for severe cases)

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  5. Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders

  OCD

  • Obsessions: unwanted thoughts

  • Compulsions: repetitive behaviors to reduce anxiety

  Medications:

  • SSRIs: Fluvoxamine, Sertraline

  • Clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant)

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  6. Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

  PTSD

  • Nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance after trauma

  Medications:

  • SSRIs: Paroxetine, Sertraline

  • Prazosin (for nightmares)

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  7. Dissociative Disorders

  • DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder): two or more identities

  • Dissociative Amnesia: loss of memory related to trauma

  Treatment: Psychotherapy (no medications directly approved)

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  8. Eating Disorders

  Anorexia Nervosa

  • Restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight

  Bulimia Nervosa

  • Bingeing followed by purging

  Binge Eating Disorder

  • Recurrent episodes without purging

  Medications:

  • SSRIs: Fluoxetine (Bulimia)

  • Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse – for binge eating disorder)

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  9. Personality Disorders

  Clusters:

  • A (odd): Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

  • B (dramatic): Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial

  • C (anxious): Avoidant, Dependent, OCPD

  Treatment:

  • Psychotherapy is primary

  • Borderline PD: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Medications may be used for symptoms (e.g., SSRIs for mood instability)

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  IX. Psychological Therapies

  Type	Key Elements
  Psychodynamic	Uncover unconscious conflict (Freud)
  Cognitive	Change irrational thoughts (Beck)
  Behavioral	Use conditioning to unlearn behaviors
  Humanistic	Self-actualization and personal growth (Rogers)
  Biomedical	Drug therapy, brain stimulation
  Eclectic	Combined approaches based on the patient

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  X. Ethical Considerations in Therapy

  • Nonmaleficence: do no harm

  • Fidelity: be trustworthy

  • Integrity: uphold professionalism

  • Respect: honor dignity and autonomy

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