PW

Exam 2 Review Session_11MAR2025 2

Exam 2 Overview

  • Exam Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025

  • Format: 50 multiple choice questions

  • Duration: Entire class time allocated for the exam

  • Content Coverage: Chapters 9-14 (material directly on the exam or providing context)

    • Bolded Items: Definitely on the exam

    • Highlights: General highlights with relevant importance

Key Concepts in Stress and Coping

Stress

  • Definition: Internal biological and psychological response to adjusting demands.

  • Consequences: By-product of inadequate coping mechanisms, leading to a physiological and psychological response.

  • Biological Response: Initiates the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

  • Fight or Flight Response: Automatic physiological reaction to perceived danger.

Appraisal of Stressful Situations

  • Definition: Evaluation process after the fight or flight response to determine threat levels.

  • Types of Appraisal:

    • Primary Appraisal: Assessing risk from stressors.

    • Secondary Appraisal: Evaluating resources and coping abilities available.

Coping Strategies

Problem-Focused Coping

  • Description: Active engagement with the stressor to find solutions.

  • Example: Studying hard for an exam to reduce anxiety.

Emotion-Focused Coping

  • Description: Regulating emotional responses rather than confronting the source of stress.

  • Example: Practicing breathing exercises post-argument to mitigate emotional distress.

Trauma and Related Disorders

Trauma

  • Definition: Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation.

  • Consequences: Can lead to various mental health disorders, including PTSD.

PTSD Diagnostic Criteria (DSM)

  • A. Trauma Exposure: Direct or indirect experience, single or repeated events.

  • B. Intrusive Symptoms: Memories, nightmares, flashbacks, distress from re-exposure to trauma.

  • C. Avoidance: Trying to avoid reminders or triggers related to the trauma.

  • D. Negative Changes in Cognition/Mood: Issues such as memory difficulties, negative emotions like guilt, and observable changes in arousal.

Neurobiology of PTSD

  • Brain Functionality:

    • Typical Response: Amygdala activates fear response; prefrontal cortex regulates the response.

    • With PTSD: Overactive amygdala and underactive prefrontal cortex lead to heightened fear without effective regulation.

Acute Stress Disorder vs. PTSD

  • Acute Stress Disorder: Symptoms occur within four weeks post-trauma and last less than one month.

  • Comparison: PTSD lasts for more than one month and can begin long after the traumatic event.

Factors Affecting Trauma Disorder Development

  • Demographics: Certain groups more at risk (e.g., low income, women, minorities).

  • Trauma Severity: The severity and unpredictability increase risk.

  • Social Support: Strong support reduces risk; poor support increases risk.

  • Coping Strategies: Ineffective coping can exacerbate conditions.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociation

  • Definition: A disconnection and lack of continuity in thoughts, memories, and identity.

  • Normal vs. Dysfunctional: Normal until it disrupts functioning.

Dissociative Amnesia

  • Types:

    • Localized (specific time periods)

    • Selective (some memories lost)

    • Generalized (all memories up to a point)

    • Continuous (ongoing memory loss)

  • Relation to Trauma: Generally associated with stressful or traumatic events.

Depersonalization

  • Description: Feeling detached from oneself or one's surroundings, as if observing from outside.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

  • Features: Presence of two or more distinct personality states, often formed as a stress response.

  • Switching: Often triggered by stress; can include varying degrees of awareness among identities.

  • Theories:

    • Socio-Cognitive Model: DID may be socially constructed through therapy cues and media influence.

    • Integrated Model: Resultant from severe trauma leading to cognitive distortions and compartmentalization.

  • Treatment Goals: Integrating distinct identities and recovering memories.

Somatic Disorders

Definition

  • Bodily symptoms causing distress or dysfunction, can be voluntary or involuntary.

Voluntary Somatic Disorders

  • Malingering: Faking symptoms for external gains (e.g., sick leave).

  • Factitious Disorder: Self-inflicted or imposed on others without clear external incentives.

Involuntary Somatic Disorders

  • Examples: Illness Anxiety Disorder, Conversion Disorder, Somatic Symptom Disorder.

  • Symptoms arise post-stress without any intentional cause.

Psychophysiological Disorders

  • Definition: Real medical conditions affected by psychological factors.

  • Examples: Ulcers, asthma, insomnia, stress-related health issues.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Definition

  • Maladaptive patterns of substance use causing distress or impairment.

  • Criteria: Must exhibit at least two symptoms within one year.

Symptoms Include:

  • Increased consumption, inability to cut down, spending time to obtain/use, and continued use despite problems.

  • Tolerance and Withdrawal:

    • Tolerance: Need for higher doses to achieve effects.

    • Withdrawal: Unpleasant symptoms occurring after stopping or reducing use.

Drug Classifications

Depressants

  • Slow CNS activity (e.g., alcohol, opioids).

Stimulants

  • Increase CNS activity (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines).

Social Media and Addiction

  • Addictive Qualities: Similar to substance addiction due to dopamine release and increased tolerance leading to compulsive use.

Body Image and Eating Disorders

Body Image

  • Description: Feelings and perceptions about one's physical appearance.

  • Cultural Ideal: Influences by social norms; overly thin ideals lead to dissatisfaction and mental health issues.

Tripartite Model

  • Body image shaped by media, family, and peer influences.

Eating Disorders (ED)

  • Types: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder.

  • Commonality: Affects diverse populations; often linked to high suicidality.

Treatment Approaches

  • Multi-disciplinary involvement including medical, nutritional, and psychotherapy (CBT).

Final Notes

  • The exam outline reviews various psychological conditions linked to stress, trauma, coping mechanisms, and treatment methodologies. It emphasizes understanding the biological underpinnings and the sociocultural factors influencing these disorders.