Mental and Physical Health Vocabulary

5.1: Introduction to Health Psychology

  • Stress: A psychological and physical response to perceived challenges or threats. Can be acute or chronic.

  • Hypertension: High blood pressure, often associated with stress and can lead to various health problems.

  • Eustress: A positive form of stress that can motivate individuals and is perceived as beneficial.

  • Distress: A negative form of stress that causes anxiety or concern and can impact both mental and physical health.

  • ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences): Traumatic events during childhood that can have long-lasting effects on health and behavior, including mental health disorders.

  • General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): A three-stage response (alarm, resistance, exhaustion) to stress identified by Hans Selye.

      - Alarm stage: Immediate reaction to stress, focusing energy on the threat.
      - Resistance stage: The body attempts to adapt to the stressor, which can deplete resources.
      - Exhaustion stage: Body's resources are depleted, leading to health issues.

  • Tend-and-befriend theory: A behavioral response to stress, especially in women, where individuals seek social support and care for others.

  • Problem-focused coping: Strategies aimed at addressing and solving the source of stress directly.

  • Emotion-focused coping: Strategies aimed at managing emotional responses to stress instead of addressing the source directly.

5.2: Positive Psychology

  • Positive psychology: A subfield of psychology that focuses on positive emotions, strengths, and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life.

  • Gratitude: A positive emotional response and a state of thankfulness which contributes to well-being.

  • Signature strengths (virtues): Personal qualities that are characteristic of an individual and contribute to their well-being and fulfillment.

  • Posttraumatic growth: Positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with challenging life circumstances.

5.3: Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

  • Diagnosing disorders: The process of identifying and classifying mental health disorders based on symptoms and criteria.

  • DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders): A manual used for diagnosing mental disorders, providing standardized criteria.

  • ICD (International Classification of Diseases): A comprehensive classification system for health conditions, including mental disorders, used globally.

  • Etiology: The study of the origins and causes of disorders.

  • Culture-bound disorders: Disorders that are specific to certain cultural or ethnic groups, shaped by cultural beliefs and practices.

  • Eclectic approach: A therapeutic approach that combines different techniques and theories to tailor treatment to individual needs.

Causes of Disorders

  • Behavioral perspective: Focuses on observable behaviors and the impacts of learning and environment on behavior.

  • Psychodynamic perspective: Emphasizes unconscious processes and childhood experiences that shape behavior.

  • Humanistic perspective: Stresses individual potential and the importance of growth and self-actualization.

  • Cognitive perspective: Examines the role of thought processes in understanding behavior and mental processes.

  • Evolutionary perspective: Looks at how evolutionary factors influence mental health and behaviors.

  • Sociocultural perspective: Considers the effects of society and culture on mental health, emphasizing prevention and treatment disparities.

  • Biological perspective: Focuses on genetic, neurological, and physiological factors that affect mental health.

  • Biopsychsocial model: Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health and illness.

  • Diathesis-stress model: Suggests that vulnerability (diathesis) and stressors interact to produce psychological disorders.

5.4: Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders: Disorders that present early in development, affecting cognitive and physical functioning.

      - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Characterized by difficulty in maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.
      - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A group of developmental disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.

  • Schizophrenic spectrum disorders: Disorders that involve psychosis and other symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

      - Delusions: Strongly held false beliefs despite evidence.
      - Hallucinations: Sensory experiences without external stimuli.
      - Disorganized thinking: Incoherent thoughts or speech, impacting communication.
      - Disorganized speech: Speech that is difficult to follow due to its nonsensical nature.
      - Disorganized motor behavior: Erratic and purposeless movements.
      - Catatonia: A state of unresponsiveness to the environment.
      - Negative symptoms: A reduction or absence of normal emotional responses or behaviors.
      - Causes of schizophrenia: Theories include genetic predisposition, neurobiological factors, and environmental triggers.
      - The dopamine hypothesis: Suggests that an overactivity of dopamine in certain brain pathways contributes to schizophrenia symptoms.

Depressive Disorders

  • Depressive disorders: Include various types of mood disorders characterized by the presence of sadness or a lack of interest.

      - Major depressive disorder: A severe form with significant impairments or distress.
      - Persistent depressive disorder: Chronic form, lasting for at least 2 years.

  • Causes of depressive disorders: Can include genetics, hormonal changes, trauma, and psychological factors.

Bipolar Disorders

  • Bipolar disorders: Characterized by episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

      - Mania: A state of elevated mood, increased activity, and often impulsive decision-making.
      - Bipolar I and Bipolar II: Bipolar I involves severe manic episodes; Bipolar II involves milder hypomanic episodes.

Anxiety Disorders

  • Anxiety disorders: A class of disorders characterized by excessive fear or worry.

      - Specific phobia: Intense fear of a specific object or situation.
      - Agoraphobia: Fear of situations where escape might be difficult.
      - Panic disorder: Characterized by recurrent panic attacks.
      - Panic attacks: Sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort.
      - Social anxiety disorder: Fear of social interactions or scrutiny.
      - Taijin Kyofusho: A culturally specific social anxiety disorder found in Japanese culture.
      - Generalized anxiety: Chronic excessive worry about various topics.

  • Causes of anxiety disorders: Can stem from genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).

      - Obsessions: Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety.
      - Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions.
      - Hoarding: A compulsive disorder where individuals collect and hold onto items excessively.

  • Causes of obsessive-compulsive disorders: May involve a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors.

Dissociative Disorders

  • Dissociative disorders: Conditions that involve a disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.

      - Dissociative amnesia: Inability to recall important personal information.
      - Dissociative fugue: Loss of identity and memory associated with wandering away from home.
      - Dissociative identity disorder (DID): Presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities.

  • Causes of dissociative disorders: Often linked to severe trauma, especially during childhood.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A disorder arising from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to various symptoms, including re-experiencing the trauma and avoidance.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

  • Feeding and eating disorders: Include various conditions related to food intake and body image.

      - Anorexia nervosa: Characterized by restriction of food intake and an intense fear of weight gain.
      - Bulimia nervosa: Involves episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (like vomiting).

  • Causes of eating and feeding disorders: Can include sociocultural influences, psychological factors, and biological predispositions.

Personality Disorders

  • Personality disorders: Enduring patterns of behavior and inner experiences that deviate markedly from cultural expectations, leading to distress and impairment.

      - Cluster A personality disorders: Eccentric or odd behaviors.
        - Paranoid PD: Distrust and suspicion of others.
        - Schizoid PD: Social detachment and restricted emotional expression.
        - Schizotypal PD: Discomfort in close relationships and cognitive or perceptual distortions.

      - Cluster B personality disorders: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors.
        - Antisocial PD: Disregard for others' rights and lack of remorse.
        - Histrionic PD: Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking.
        - Narcissistic PD: Grandiosity and need for admiration.
        - Borderline PD: Instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions.

      - Cluster C personality disorders: Anxious and fearful behaviors.
        - Avoidant PD: Social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy.
        - Dependent PD: Excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive behavior.
        - Obsessive-compulsive PD: Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

5.5: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

  • Psychodynamic therapies: Focus on unconscious processes and past conflicts affecting behavior.

      - Free association: Technique where patients speak freely to uncover unconscious thoughts.
      - Dream interpretation: Analyzing dreams to understand hidden feelings.

  • Cognitive therapies: Focus on changing maladaptive thought patterns.

      - Cognitive restructuring: Changing negative thought patterns.
      - Fear hierarchies: Gradually exposing individuals to fear in a structured manner.
      - Maladaptive thinking: Thoughts that contribute to psychological distress.
      - Cognitive triad: Negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future.

  • Applied behavior analysis: A methodology for changing behavior using reinforcement techniques.

  • Exposure therapies: Techniques that encourage patients to confront feared objects or situations.

      - Systematic desensitization: Gradual exposure to fear while practicing relaxation techniques.
      - Aversion therapies: Conditioning that associates an unpleasant experience with an undesirable behavior.

  • Biofeedback: A technique that teaches self-regulation of physiological functions.

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT): Integrates cognitive and behavioral approaches to treat disorders.

  • Dialectical behavior therapy: A form of CBT that focuses on emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

  • Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT): A form of cognitive therapy emphasizing changing irrational beliefs.

  • Person-centered therapy: A humanistic approach focusing on the inherent potential in individuals.

      - Unconditional positive regard: Accepting and supporting a person regardless of what they say or do.

  • Group therapy: A form of psychotherapy involving multiple patients for shared experiences and support.

  • Hypnosis: A technique involving focused attention and suggestion to aid in various issues.

Psychopharmacology

  • Psychoactive medications: Drugs that affect mood, perception, and behavior.

      - Antidepressants: Medications used to treat depressive disorders by altering neurotransmitters.
      - Antianxiety medications: Used to alleviate anxiety symptoms, often focusing on increasing GABA activity.
      - Lithium: Often used to treat bipolar disorder, stabilizing mood swings.
      - Antipsychotics: Medications used to manage symptoms of psychosis, particularly in schizophrenia.
      - Tardive dyskinesia: A potential side effect of antipsychotic drugs causing uncontrollable movements.

Other Treatment Methods

  • Psychosurgery: Involves surgical interventions to treat severe mental disorders when other treatments have failed.

  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): A non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

  • Lesioning: A medical procedure involving the intentional removal or destruction of brain tissue to alleviate symptoms.

  • Lobotomy: A now-outdated surgical procedure that severed connections in the prefrontal cortex, used historically to treat severe mental disorders.

  • Electroconvulsive therapy: A procedure in which electrical currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure to provide relief from severe depression.