Health Psychology and Diversity Flashcards
What is the biopsychosocial model?
Biological, social and psychological components affect each other and contribute to health and illness.
What is a stereotype?
A generalisation about social groups
What is prejudice?
An evaluative and affective component which combines attitude and pre-judgement.
What is discrimination?
When you act on prejudices and behave differently based on a person’s group without taking into account the individual.
What is the difference between dementia and mild cognitive impairment?
Dementia is when memory loss and/or loss of cognitive skills affects day to day living, causing disability
Mild cognitive impairment is when there is some loss or decline but without disability.
What is the difference between the developmental and trait models for personality?
Developmental - personality is affected by past behaviour and relationships
Trait - personality formed of constituent traits
What is the biomedical model?
Illness is caused by biological and physiological processes, and must be treated using physical intervention.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What is operant conditioning?
Unconscious association between actions and consequences.
What is social learning theory?
People learn vicariously by observation and modelling. Their behaviour is focussed on a desired goal or outcome.
More motivated to perform a behaviour if it is valued or they believe they can do it.
Effective when the models have a high status or are ‘like us’
What is the theory of planned behaviour?
Understanding people’s intentions through their attitude towards a behaviour, subjective normality and perceived control.
Describe the stages of change model.
There are 5 stages that people pass through over the time of decision making or change.
1. Precontemplation
2. Contemplation
3. Prepare
4. Action
5. Maintenance
Change isn’t linear and people may relapse. Often go through a number of times before permanent change.
What is cognitive dissonance theory?
People feel discomfort when they hold inconsistent beliefs, or when an action/event doesn’t fit with their beliefs.
Adding health information which may be uncomfortable can prompt a change in behaviour, but can also be counter-productive.
What is the difference between low risk, hazardous and severely dependent drinkers?
Low risk - within health guidelines
Hazardous - drinks too much but currently has no problems
Severe dependent - typically drink in the morning every day. Has complex needs.
What do you do in a case of acute intoxication?
Monitor vitals and electrolytes, glucose
Inject vitamin B
Watch for withdrawal
What processes does the activation of the acute stress response change?
Increase respiratory and heart rate Liberate glucose and decrease insulin sensitivity Up-regulate immune system Reduce sexual response and digestion Improved mental functioning
Why is long-term physiological stress damaging?
Upregulation of the body systems is maintained which depletes them and eventually leads to exhaustion.
E.g. Depressed immune system/gland function
What is the transactional model of stress?
Stress is subjective and the physiological response depends on how we process it.
It weighs up demands and resources.
What are the three stages of appraisal in stress?
Primary appraisal - is it a threat? How much?
Secondary appraisal - do I have the resources to cope?
Reappraisal - reconsider situation during and after
What are some physical effects of chronic stress?
Mainly cardiovascular - high heart rate and blood pressure. Can cause ischaemia and activate coagulation/inflammatory processes which cause atheroma
How can chronic stress impact the immune system?
Causes chronically high cortisol levels which increases susceptibility to infection as it suppresses the immune system.
Give some stress management strategies.
Cognitive - restructure hypotheses, focus on appraisal.
Behavioural - skills training to give a coping strategy
Emotional - counselling, draw on emotional support
Physical - exercise and relaxation training
Non cognitive - drugs
What conditions can cognitive behavioural therapy be used to treat?
Depression Anxiety Eating disorders Sexual dysfunction Psychosis (adjunctive with medication to help respond to delusionary beliefs)
What is psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy?
Identifying conflicts arising from early experiences using a focus on the relationship between the patient and therapist
What conditions can psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy be used to treat?
Interpersonal difficulties (relationships) Personality problems
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
A combination of techniques and concepts used to change maladaptive thoughts, feelings and behaviours, in order to relieve symptoms.
What is systemic therapy?
Treating a ‘system’ with more than one person, such as couples, focussing on the relationship concepts to address patterns of interaction and feeling
What problems can systemic therapy be used to treat?
Interpersonal problems
Used in child psychiatry as the family are the main product of their environment
What is humanistic therapy?
Using a focus on warmth and compassion to support people coping with an immediate crisis.
What can humanistic therapy be used to treat?
Subclinical depression
Anxiety
Relationship problems
Life effects
What are the core principles of cognitive behavioural therapy?
We aren’t passive recipients of stimuli. The way we interpret the world through values, beliefs, expectations and attitudes affects our reaction to situations.
Describe some of the behavioural aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy.
Graded exposure to feared situations
Activity scheduling, such as in depression
Reinforcement of positive behaviour
Describe some of the cognitive aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy
Education to allow the patient to understand their disorder and its effect
Record thoughts, feelings, behaviour and context to develop awareness
Examine or challenge negative thoughts
Behavioural experiments
Describe some of the diversity in death.
Women live approximately 4 years longer than men
Death rates increase with age
The wealthy live longer in better health
What are the three main patterns of death?
Gradual
Catastrophic
Premature
Describe the grief mode.
Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance - They are common emotional reactions which aren't necessarily all experienced or in this order.
What are some symptoms of grief?
Emotional reactions e.g. disbelief, shock
Increased risk of illness and mortality
Physical e.g. SOB, palpitations, fatigue
Behavioural e.g. insomnia, irritability, crying
Emotional e.g. depression, anxiety, anger, guilt
Cognitive e.g. loss of consciousness/memory, hopelessness
When is psychological support helpful in grief?
In high-risk patients with chronic, high-level grief.
What are the risk factors for chronic, high-level grief?
Prior bereavement Mental health issues Type of loss (young, violent, suicide, caring status) Lack of social support Stress from other crises
Can be complicated and prolonged if the expression or ending of grief is discouraged
What are the aims of palliative care?
Improve quality of life Manage emotional and physical symptoms Support the patient to live productively Give the patient some control Shift the focus away from medical intervention (focus on emotional and spiritual needs)
What is culture?
Each person in relationship to the group or groups with whom they identify.
Based on heritage, individual circumstances, and personal choice. Cultural identity may be affected.