Unit 5 Mental and Physical Health

Stress – The body’s response to physical, emotional, or psychological challenges.

Hypertension – High blood pressure, often linked to stress and increasing heart disease risk.

Headaches – Pain in the head caused by stress, tension, or medical conditions.

Immune Suppression – A weakened immune system, making the body more prone to illness.

Stressors – Events causing stress, which can be eustress (positive) or distress (negative).

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) – Traumatic childhood events that impact long-term health.

GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome) – The body’s three-stage stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Tend and Befriend Theory – A stress response where individuals seek social support rather than fight-or-flight.

Problem-Focused Coping – Tackling stress by addressing its root cause.

Emotion-Focused Coping – Managing emotions rather than solving the problem.

Positive Psychology – A field that studies well-being, strengths, and human flourishing.

Subjective Well-Being – An individual’s personal perception of happiness and life satisfaction.

Positive Subjective Experiences – Feelings of joy, gratitude, or contentment.

Posttraumatic Growth – Positive psychological change following adversity or trauma.

Psychological Disorder – A mental health condition that affects thinking, emotions, or behavior.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) – A classification system for mental disorders used in the U.S.

ICD (International Classification of Mental Disorders) – The WHO’s global system for diagnosing diseases, including mental illnesses.

Eclectic Approach – Using techniques from multiple psychological perspectives in therapy.

Diathesis-Stress Model – A theory that mental disorders result from genetic predispositions and environmental stress.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) – A disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) – A developmental disorder affecting social interaction and communication.

Delusions – Strong false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary.

Hallucinations – Sensory experiences (e.g., hearing voices) without external stimuli.

Disorganized Thinking/Speech – Impaired thought processes leading to incoherent speech.

Disorganized Motor Behaviors – Abnormal movements, including excessive agitation or catatonia.

Negative Symptoms – Symptoms of schizophrenia that involve a lack of normal behaviors, such as reduced emotion.

Positive Symptoms – Symptoms of schizophrenia that involve excess behaviors, such as hallucinations.

Major Depressive Disorder – A mood disorder with prolonged sadness and loss of interest.

Persistent Depressive Disorder – Chronic depression lasting for at least two years.

Bipolar I – A mood disorder with extreme manic episodes and possible depressive episodes.

Bipolar II – A disorder with hypomanic (milder manic) episodes and depression.

Specific Phobia – Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Agoraphobia – Fear of situations where escape might be difficult, leading to avoidance of public places.

Panic Disorder – A condition marked by sudden, intense panic attacks.

Ataque de nervios – A culturally specific anxiety-related reaction found in Latin American cultures.

Social Anxiety Disorder – Extreme fear of social situations due to fear of judgment.

Taijin Kyofusho – A Japanese disorder characterized by fear of offending others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Chronic excessive worry about everyday life.

Obsessions – Persistent, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety.

Compulsions – Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Hoarding Disorder – Difficulty discarding possessions, leading to excessive clutter.

Dissociative Amnesia – Memory loss due to trauma, often involving personal information.

Dissociative Amnesia with Fugue – Memory loss combined with unexpected travel or identity confusion.

Dissociative Identity Disorder – A condition where a person has two or more distinct identities.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) – A disorder caused by trauma, resulting in flashbacks and severe anxiety.

Anorexia Nervosa – An eating disorder characterized by severe food restriction and intense fear of weight gain.

Bulimia Nervosa – A disorder involving binge eating followed by purging.

Paranoid Personality Disorder – A disorder marked by extreme distrust and suspicion of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder – A condition where individuals prefer isolation and show little emotion.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder – Characterized by odd thinking, eccentric behavior, and discomfort in social situations.

Antisocial Personality Disorder – A disorder involving disregard for others, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.

Histrionic Personality Disorder – Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder – A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

Borderline Personality Disorder – Marked by unstable relationships, impulsivity, and emotional instability.

Avoidant Personality Disorder – Social inhibition and hypersensitivity to criticism.

Dependent Personality Disorder – Excessive reliance on others for support and decision-making.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder – A disorder characterized by perfectionism and need for control.

Psychotherapy – Treatment of mental disorders through psychological methods.

Evidence-Based Interventions – Therapies that have been scientifically tested and proven effective.

Therapeutic Alliance – The bond and trust between therapist and client.

Psychotropic Medication – Drugs that alter brain function to treat mental disorders.

Nonmaleficence – The ethical principle of doing no harm.

Fidelity – Ethical commitment to being trustworthy and keeping promises.

Integrity – Upholding honesty and strong moral principles in treatment.

Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity – Honoring individuals’ autonomy and treating them with fairness.

Psychodynamic Therapies – Therapies focusing on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Free Association – A technique where clients freely express thoughts to uncover unconscious conflicts.

Cognitive Therapies – Approaches focused on changing negative thought patterns.

Cognitive Restructuring – Modifying maladaptive thoughts to improve emotional well-being.

Fear Hierarchies – A tool used in exposure therapy to gradually confront fears.

Cognitive Triad – A pattern of negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.

Behavior Therapies – Therapies focused on changing maladaptive behaviors.

Exposure Therapies – Gradual exposure to feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety.

Systematic Desensitization – A structured exposure therapy used to reduce fear.

Aversion Therapies – Pairing unwanted behaviors with negative stimuli to discourage them.

Token Economies – A reward system used to reinforce desired behaviors.

Biofeedback – A technique using monitoring devices to control physiological responses.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) – A therapy combining cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – A CBT-based approach designed for emotional regulation.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) – A therapy challenging irrational beliefs to improve mental health.

Humanistic Therapies – Therapies focused on self-actualization and personal growth.

Person-Centered Therapy – A humanistic therapy emphasizing self-exploration.

Active Listening – A communication technique that fosters understanding and empathy.

Unconditional Positive Regard – Accepting clients without judgment.

Group Therapy – Therapy conducted with multiple clients.

Hypnosis – A therapeutic technique inducing a trance-like state for treatment.

Antidepressants – Medications used to treat depression.

Antianxiety Medications – Drugs that help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Lithium – A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.

Antipsychotics – Medications used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Tardive Dyskinesia – A movement disorder caused by long-term antipsychotic use.

Psychosurgery (Lesioning) – Surgical intervention to treat mental disorders.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) – A noninvasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity.