Chapter 9 Flashcards
Two fields of study
Behavioral Medicine
Health Psychology
Defined as the application of behavioral science to healthcare.
Involves a multidisciplinary approach, with psychologists, physicians, and health professionals collaborating to integrate behavioral factors into health treatment and prevention strategies.
Behavioral Medicine
Introduced as a specialized domain within psychology.
Focuses on studying how psychological factors can be utilized for health promotion and maintenance.
Extends to understanding how the mind can contribute to both health improvement and the etiology of diseases.
Health Psychology
Play a key role in analyzing healthcare systems and policies, aiming to enhance their effectiveness.
Health psychologists
Examples of diseases influenced by psychological and social factors.
Genital herpes and AIDS
Discussed as a direct influencer of the immune system, potentially promoting disease progression in AIDS.
Stress
Recognized as a leading preventable cause of death.
Smoking
Groundbreaking experiments with rats, which inadvertently led to the identification of the physiological problems associated with stress.
Hans Selye’s Observations
According to this theory, the body goes through three stages in response to sustained stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
3 stages in response to sustained stress
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion
Stage which refers to the initial symptoms the body experiences when under stress
Alarm
Stage where after the initial shock of a stressful event and having a fight-or-flight response, the body begins to repair itself.
It releases a lower amount of cortisol, and your heart rate and blood pressure begin to normalize.
Resistance
Stage which is the result of prolonged or chronic stress; no longer have energy to fight stress.
Exhaustion
Responsive to cortisol.
Helps to turn off the stress
response, completing a feedback loop between the limbic system and the various parts of HPA axis.
Hippocampus
Activates the adrenal gland, which secretes, the hormone cortisol.
Pituitary gland
Secreted by the hypothalamus and stimulates the pituitary gland.
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)
Explains how baboons, akin to humans, establish social hierarchies.
Elaborates on the challenges faced by subordinate animals, including bullying and
limited access to resources, underlining the significance of social rank in baboon societies.
Baboons in Social Hierarchies (Sapolsky)
Study involving over 47,000 individuals across 17 countries.
Examines the intricate links between mental
disorders and chronic physical conditions.
Suggest that mental disorders significantly
increase the risk of developing physical health issues, reinforcing the connection between
psychological and physical well-being.
Study by Scott and Colleagues
Spans from excitement to stress, anxiety, and depression.
How one’s perception of control and coping capabilities can influence which emotional state is encountered.
Continuum of Feelings
A state of hopelessness and the loss of the desire to cope.
Depression
Elucidates how B cells produce antibodies, known as immunoglobulins, which serve to neutralize antigens.
Humoral Immune System
Roles of T cells, especially killer T cells, in directly combating viruses and cancer cells.
Significance of memory T cells for future immune responses and delineates the functions of T4 (helper) and suppressor T cells in immune regulation.
Cellular Immune System
A process that when immune system is
compromised, it may no longer be able to attack and eliminate antigens from the body effectively, or it may even begin to attack the body’s normal tissue instead.
Autoimmune disease
The object of study is psychological
influences on the neurological responding implicated in our immune response.
Underscores the impact of psychological influences on immune responses and reveals the molecular pathways that link stress to the onset of diseases.
Psychoneuroimmunology
Mental and emotional aspects that impact health, including stress, emotions, and cognition.
Psychological Factors
A model that considers the influence of biological, psychological, and social factors on health and illness.
Biopsychosocial Model
Diseases related to hormonal imbalances, like diabetes
Endocrinological Disorders
Health issues affecting the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular Disorders
Diseases impacting the immune system, such as AIDS.
Immune System Disorders
A field focused on the relationship between psychological factors and physical health.
Psychosomatic Medicine
An approach that integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding diseases.
Biopsychosocial Approach
The cause or origin of a disease or condition.
Etiology
Interpersonal relationships that play a role in overall well-being.
Social Networks
Most advanced stage of HIV.
ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME
An infection that attacks the body’s immune system
HIV
Methods of transmission of AIDS
Intravenous drug use
Sexual activity
2 Psychological factors that influence progression of AIDS
STRESS & LOW SOCIAL SUPPORT
DEPRESSION
May have positive effects on the immune systems of individuals who are already symptomatic
Cognitive-Behavioral Stress-Management
Disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
Abnormal cell growth produces malignant tumors.
CANCER
6 Psychological factors that influence course & development of Cancer
SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Perceived lack of control
Inadequate coping responses
Overwhelmingly stressful life event
Use of inappropriate coping responses
CANCER ON CHILDREN
Study of psychosocial factors involved in the course and treatment of cancer
PSYCHONCOLOGY
May prolong life, alleviate symptoms, and reduce depression and pain.
Psychosocial treatments
A disease of the heart or blood vessels.
Blood clot build-up of fatty deposits inside
an artery, leading to the artery hardening and narrowing.
CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS
2 CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS
STROKE (CEREBRAL VASCULAR ACCIDENTS)
HYPERTENSION
Blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain
STROKE (CEREBRAL VASCULAR ACCIDENTS)
Constriction of blood vessels at organs and extremities puts extra pressure on the heart, which eventually weakens.
When the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher)
HYPERTENSION (high blood pressure)
No specific verifiable physical cause (close to 90% of cases).
Runs in families and likely is subject to marked genetic influences
Essential Hypertension
Major contributor to essential hypertension
Stress
5 Psychological factors that influence Hypertension
SOCIAL SUPPORT
LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, and FEELINGS OF UNCONTROLLABILITY
“WARM TOUCH”
HUGGING
HOSTILITY & SENSE OF TIME URGENCY/IMPATIENCE
3 Psychological factors that contribute to cardiovascular problem
LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, and FEELINGS OF UNCONTROLLABILITY
A way of communicating love and support significantly decreased blood pressure
“WARM TOUCH”
Has a stress-buffering effect and can prevent the outbreak of the symptoms of a viral infection and reduce the severity of the symptoms
HUGGING
2 psychological factors, each of which almost doubles the risk of hypertension
HOSTILITY & SENSE OF TIME URGENCY/IMPATIENCE
A type of hearts disease where the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
Blockage of arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (myocardium)
CORONARY HEART DISEASE
Chest pain resulting from partial obstruction of the arteries
ANGINA / ANGINA PECTORIS
Occurs when a fatty substance or plaque builds up inside the arteries and causes an obstruction.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Deficiency of blood to a body part caused by the narrowing of the arteries by too much plaque
ISCHEMIA
Death of heart tissue when a specific artery becomes clogged with plaque.
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION or HEART ATTACK
6 Psychological factors that influence CHD
● STRESS
● ANXIETY
● ANGER
● POOR COPING SKILLS
● LOW SOCIAL SUPPORT
● SEVERE STRESS
Can lead on rare occasions to MYOCARDIAL STUNNING
Severe stress
Basically heart failure
MYOCARDIAL STUNNING
- Excessive competitive drive
- a sense of always being pressured for time,
impatience - incredible amounts of energy that may show
up in accelerated speech and motor activity,
and angry outbursts - more than twice as likely to develop CHD
Type A behavior pattern
- more relaxed
- less concerned about deadlines
- seldom feels the pressure or, perhaps, the
excitement of challenges or overriding ambition.
Type B behavior pattern
CHRONIC NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
Anger
Severe depression
Impaired the pumping efficiency of the heart, putting these individuals at risk for dangerous disturbances in heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
Anger
Major depressive episodes, is particularly implicated in cardiovascular damage.
SEVERE DEPRESSION
Social inhibition and heightened negative emotions
Type D personality
Long standing pain that persists beyond the usual recovery period or occurs along
with a chronic health condition, such as arthritis.
May be “on” and “off” or continuous.
Typically involves joints, muscles, and tendons, particularly in the lower back; may result from enlarged blood vessels, tissue degeneration, or cancerous tumors.
CHRONIC PAIN
A serious long-term illness that affects many body systems.
Formerly NEURASTHENIA, literally “lack of nerve strength”
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
2 KINDS OF CLINICAL PAIN
ACUTE PAIN
CHRONIC PAIN
Typically follows an injury and disappears once the injury heals or is effectively treated, often within a month.
ACUTE PAIN
May begin with an acute episode but
does not decrease over time, even when
the injury has healed or effect
CHRONIC PAIN
Include changing the way one sits or walks, continually complaining about pain to others,
grimacing, and, most important, avoiding various activities, particularly those involving work or leisure.
PAIN BEHAVIOR
Emotional component of pain.
Sometimes accompanies pain and sometimes does not.
Suffering
4 Psychological and Social Aspects of Pain
GENERAL SENSE OF CONTROL OVER SITUATION
PRE-EXISTING ANXIETY & PERSONALITY PROBLEMS
PHANTOM LIMB PAIN
OPERANT CONTROL
Whether or not he or she can deal with the pain and its consequences in an effective and
meaningful way
GENERAL SENSE OF CONTROL OVER SITUATION
Individuals who lost a limb feel excruciating pain in the limb that is no longer there.
PHANTOM LIMB PAIN
For example, family members who were formerly critical and demanding may become caring and sympathetic.
OPERANT CONTROL
Nerve impulses from painful stimuli make their way to the spinal column and from there to the brain.
DORSAL HORNS OF THE SPINAL COLUMN acts as a “gate” and may open and transmit sensations of pain if the stimulation is sufficiently intense.
GATE CONTROL THEORY OF PAIN
Acts as a “gate” and may open and transmit
sensations of pain if the stimulation is sufficiently intense.
DORSAL HORNS OF THE SPINAL COLUMN
Act much like neurotransmitters.
Endorphins or Enkephalins
The female neurochemistry may be based on this system that may have evolved to cope with the pain associated with reproductive activity
ESTROGEN-DEPENDENT neuronal system
Leads to lack of stamina, weakness, and increased feelings of depression and helplessness that in turn result in episodic bursts of long activity followed by further fatigue
CHRONIC INACTIVITY
That encourages patients to slowly increase and maintain their physical activities (such as aerobic exercise and housework) without leading to exertion has sustained benefits on CFS symptoms.
Behavioral Intervention
Includes procedures to increase activity, regulate periods of rest, and direct cognitive therapy.
This treatment also includes relaxation, breathing exercises, and general stress-reduction
procedures.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
Process of making patients aware of specific physiological functions that, ordinarily, they would not notice consciously (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, electroencephalogram rhythms (brain waves), and patterns of blood flow)
Biofeedback
People purposely tense different muscle groups in a sequentialfashion followed by relaxing each specific muscle group
Progressive muscle relaxation
A person silently repeats a mantra (focusing attention solely on a repeated syllable) to minimize distraction by closing the mind to intruding thoughts.
Relaxation response (Meditation)
Appears to be effective for a range of problems, including stress, and
especially anxiety and depression
Mindfulness meditation
Are an important part of stress, and clients learn how they exaggerate the negative impact of events in their day-to-day lives.
Appraisals and attitudes
Individuals practice a variety of stress-management procedures presented to them in a workbook.
Stress-management program
Patients are taught to prioritize their activities and pay less attention to nonessential demands.
Time-management training
They learn to stand up for themselves in an appropriate way.
Clients also learn other procedures for managing everyday problems
Assertiveness training
Reliance on analgesics medication for pain (e.g. headaches) lessens the efficacy of comprehensive programs in treating headache and make it more worse
Drugs and Stress-Reduction Programs
Confronting and working through our feelings, after stressful or traumatic events is important than denial.
Beginning with Sigmund Freud, mental health professionals have recognized the importance of reliving or processing intense emotional experiences to put them behind us and to develop better coping responses.
Denial as a Means of Coping
Very strong program focused on inner-city AfricanAmerican adolescent females that is consisted of four 1-hour group sessions
SiHLE (Sistas Informing, Healing, Living, Empowering)
In children, prevention focuses on: (4)
● escaping fires
● crossing streets
● using car seats, seat belts, and bicycle helmets
● first aid
One of the best-known and most successful efforts to reduce risk factors for disease in the
community.
Measured the effectiveness of media campaigns and community-wide health education plus a specific high risk intervention on cardiovascular risk factor levels.
Investigators studied three entire communities in central California that were reasonably alike in size and type of residents between 1972 and 1975.
Stanford Three Community Study
