Chapter 5 Flashcards
- Acute Stress Disorder
a. Disorder that occurs within 4 weeks after a traumatic event and lasts for a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 4 weeks
- Adjustment Disorder
a. A disorder in which a person’s response to a common stressor is maladaptive and occurs within
- Allostatic Load
a. The biological cost of adapting to stress. Under conditions of high stress our allostatic load is high. When we are calm, our allostatic load is low, and our bodies are not experiencing any of the physiological consequences of stress (racing heart, high levels of cortisol, etc.).
- Antigens
a. a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- B-Cell
a. A type of white blood cell, produced in the bone marrow, that is (along with T-cells) very important in the immune system. B-cells produce specific antibodies in response to specific antigens.
- Behavioral Medicine
a. Broad interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of physical disorders thought to have psychological factors as major aspects in their causation or maintenance.
- Coping Strategies
a. Efforts to deal with stress.
- Correlational Research
a. A research strategy that examines whether and how variables go together (co-vary) without manipulating (changing) any variables.
- Study
a. a systematic investigation or research endeavor aimed at understanding human behavior and mental processes
- Cortisol
a. Human stress hormone released by the cortex of the adrenal glands.
- Crisis
a. Stressful situation that approaches or exceeds the adaptive capacities of an individual or a group.
- Crisis Intervention
a. Provision of psychological help to an individual or a group in times of severe and special stress.
- Cytokines
a. Small protein molecules that enable the brain and the immune system to communicate with each other. Cytokines can augment or enhance an immune system response or cause immunosuppression, depending on the specific cytokine that is released.
- Debriefing Sessions
a. Psychological debriefing is a brief, directive treatment method that is used in helping people who have undergone a traumatic situation. Debriefing sessions are usually conducted with small groups of trauma victims shortly after the incident for the purpose of helping them deal with the emotional residuals of the event.
- Distress
a. Negative stress, associated with pain, anxiety, or sorrow.
- Health Psychology
a. Subspecialty within behavioral medicine that deals with psychology’s contributions to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological components of physical dysfunction.
- HPA System
a. The HPA axis is a hormonal feedback system that becomes activated by stress and results in the production of cortisol.
- Immune System
a. The body’s principal means of defending itself against the intrusion of foreign substances.
- Immunosuppression
a. A downregulation or dampening of the immune system. This can be short or long term and can be triggered by injury, stress, illness, and other factors.
- Leukocytes
a. white blood cells, which are part of the immune system and have a role in the body’s defense against infections and diseases
- Lymphocytes
a. Generalized term for white blood cells involved in immune protection.
- Positive Psychology
a. A new field that focuses on human traits (e.g., optimism) and resources that are potentially important for health and well-being.
- PTSD
a. Disorder that occurs following an extreme traumatic event, in which a person reexperiences the event, avoids reminders of the trauma, and exhibits persistent increased arousal.
- Prolonged Exposure
a. A behaviorally oriented treatment strategy in which a patient is asked to vividly recount the traumatic event over and over until the patient experiences a decrease in his or her emotional response.
- Resilience
a. The ability to adapt successfully to even very difficult circumstances.
- Stress
a. Effects created within an organism by the application of a stressor.
- Stress-inoculation training
a. Type of self-instructional training focused on altering self-statements that a person routinely makes in stress-producing situations
- Stress tolerance
a. A person’s ability to withstand stress without becoming seriously impaired
- Stressors
a. Adjustive demands that require coping behavior on the part of an individual or group.
- SAM system
a. System designed to mobilize resources and prepare for a fight-or-flight response.
- T-cell
a. A type of white blood cell that, when activated, can recognize specific antigens. T-cells play an important role in the immune system
- Type A Behavior-Pattern
a. Excessive competitive drive even when it is unnecessary, impatience or time urgency, and hostility
- Type D Personality
a. Type D (for distressed) personality is characterized by high levels of negative emotions and social anxiety. Research suggests that Type D personality is linked to heart attacks
