Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 9 - Trauma and Stress Related Disorders Flashcards
An ongoing process that occurs when environment or social threats place demands on individuals.
stress
A three-stage physiological reaction to a stressor, consisting of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
*GAS
general adaptation syndrome
The immediate response to a stressor in which the individual’s autonomic nervous system is activated to “fight or to flee” from the stressor
fight-or-flight response
The second stage of the general adaptation syndrome, in which various coping mechanisms are used to defend against a stressor.
stage of resistance
The third stage of the general adaptation syndrome, in which organ systems break down
stage of exhaustion
The feedback loop that plays a critical role in the body’s response to stress.
In times of stress, the adrenal glands respond to messages from the hypothalamic-pituitary system by increasing their output of cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine), hormones that help the body cope with stressors via “fight-or-flight” mechanisms.
HPA
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
A hormone that starts a chain of coordinated physiological and biochemical defenses against a stressor, and signals the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
CRH
corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
A hormone that, in response to a stressor, directs the adrenal glands to release adrenal corticosteroids.
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
A chemical messenger, also known as a stress hormone, that intensifies alarm and prepares the body to cope with a stressor.
adrenal corticosteroid
A chemical messenger, also known as an adrenal corticosteriod, that intensifies alarm and prepares the body to cope with a stressor.
stress hormone
An endogenous opioid that helps regulate cardiovasular activity, relieve pain, and facilitate psychological coping.
endorphin
A decrease in immune system effectiveness that sometimes follows sustained stress
immunosupression
A steroidal hormone the body uses to fight stress
glucocorticoid
Stressful or traumatic experiences, including abuse, neglect, and a range of household dysfunction, such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with substance abuse, mental disorders, parental discord, or crime in the home.
adverse childhood experiences
A person’s efforts to modify, manage, or tolerate stressors.
coping
The evaluation of the significance of a stressor or threatening event.
primary appraisal
An attempt to reduce stress by directly changing the stressor itself
problem-focused coping
An attempt to reduce stress by thinking about a stressor in ways that make it less upsetting.
cognitive reappraisal
Attempts to reduce stress by changing a person’s emotional responses to a stressor.
emotion-focused coping
The feeling that you cared for by others or belong to a valued group.
social support
Maladaptive behavioral and psychological reactions to a stressor occurring within 3 months of the stressor.
adjustment disorder
An anxiety disorder in which a person experiences a pattern of intense, fear-related reactions after being exposed to a highly stressful event.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A mental disorder in which a person who has undergone a traumatic event experiences trauma-related symptoms similar to PTSD that begin within 1 month of the trauma and last less than 1 month.
acute stress disorder
A model that combines classical conditioning and operant conditioning to explain disorders such as PSTD and phobias.
two-factor conditioning
A memory network that connects fear stimuli and fearful responses.
fear network
A cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD that involves repeatedly exposing individuals to stimuli that remind them of their past trauma in order to alter their fear networks
prolonged exposure therapy
A cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD that involves repeatedly exposing individuals to stimuli that remind them of their past trauma, in addition to having them process the meaning of their trauma through written exercises.
cognitive processing therapy
A cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD that involves repeatedly exposing individuals to stimuli that remind them of their past trauma, while they engage in eye or other bilateral movements postulated to facilitate emotional processing.
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
