13. Psychobiology

Question 1

Briefly describe the 3 stages of general adaptation syndrome (stress)

Answer 1

1) Alarm reaction
• Shift to sympathetic dominance
• Increased arousal

2) Resistance
• Endocrine system releases stress hormones to maintain increased arousal

3) Exhaustion
• Adrenal glands lose their function to work normally
• Immune system function may be compromised at this point

Question 2

Stress can be partly defined as the behavioural tendencies that occur in response to a perceived imbalance between primary and secondary appraisal. What does this mean?

Answer 2

Imbalance between:
• Primary appraisal - how significant an event is for a person (situational demands)
• Secondary appraisal - resources/ability to cope with the situational demands

More likely to stress when demands outweigh resources

Question 3

What does the Yerkes-Dodson Law suggest about stress?

Answer 3

• Level of stress is helpful and improves performance

* If this arousal is too high, performance decreases

Question 4

In a study, how much did students drink in a non-exam / exam period if they had low/high social support?

Answer 4

• High levels of support - drank more in non-exam period, and less in exam period
• Low levels of support - drank more in exam period

Question 5

How does stress affect the risk of developing CVD?

Answer 5

Anxiety associated with 52% increased risk of developing CVD
(greater extent of coronary artery calcification)

Question 6

What is the interdisciplinary field that studies the effect of psychological factors on the immune system called?

Answer 6

Psychoneuroimmunology

Question 7

Does stress affect wound healing?

Answer 7

Yes, slows it down

study showed this was the case in all students, on average by 40%

Question 8

What is a potential mechanism for slower wound healing during stress?

Answer 8

Lower production of IL-1

Question 9

What are the traits of a Type A behaviour personality?

Answer 9

• Time urgency
• Free-floating hostility
• Hyper-aggressiveness
• Focus on accomplishment
• Competitive and goal-driven

(risk factors more likely to be associated with CHD)

Question 10

Does depression increase the risk of CHD?

Answer 10

Yes

2-2.5x higher risk of mortality in first 2 years

Question 11

In depression, what does problem-focused and emotion-focused coping refer to?

Answer 11

Problem-focused
• Approach: activity oriented towards a threat
• Person may want to discuss illness and treatment in detail

Emotion-focused
• Avoidance: activity oriented away from a threat e.g. distraction
• May find it difficult to engage in discussions around illness and treatment

Question 12

What does stress burnout involve?

Answer 12

• Emotional and physical exhaustion - inability to engage fully with many aspects of a job, particularly those involving interaction
• Depersonalisation - patients seen less as individuals, and situations become part of a routine
• Reduced personal accomplishment - little sense of achievement in relation to the job

Question 13

How does branding a drug affect its effectiveness?

Answer 13

Increases its effect, even if it’s a placebo

Question 14

How does listing the side effects of a drug change its effects?

Answer 14

Patients more likely to experience the side effects, even if it’s a placebo

Question 15

What are the possible mechanisms underlying the placebo effect?

Answer 15

• Expectancy
• Classical conditioning
• Anxiety => attention
• Release of endogenous opiates