Chapter 9 - Biopsychosocial approach Flashcards
Biological Factors
- GABA
- Long-term potentiation
GABA
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system
Low levels of GABA may contribute to specific phobia
Someone’s flight-or-fight-or-freeze or anxiety response is activated more easily than someone with adequate GABA levels.
LTP
Long-lasting and experience-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly coactivated
LTP contribute to specific phobia
2 signals are activated…
- Perceiving the spider
- Neural signal responsible for activating the stress response
Repetition of both can lead to phobia being developed
Psychological factors
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Cognitive biases, including memory bias and catastrophic thinking.
Classical Conditioning
- Before > NS
- During > UCS - UCR
- After > CS - CR
Operant conditioning
- Antecedent
- Behaviour
- Consequences > Negative reinforcement
Cognitive biases
- Memory bias
- Catastrophic thinking
Memory bias
Type of cognitive bias caused by inaccurate or exaggerated memory
Catastrophic thinking
Type of cognitive bias in which a stimulus or event is predicted to be far worse than it actually is
Social factors
- Specific environmental triggers
- Stigma around seeking treatment
Specific environmental triggers
Stimuli or experiences in a person’s environment that evoke an extreme stress response, leading to the development of a phobia
Stigma around seeking treatment
Fear of speaking up about their phobia due to embarrassment, worry, or fear
Biological interventions
- GABA agonist > Benzodiazepines
- Breathing retraining
