Module 6: Mental Health Flashcards
define mental health
how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life
define good mental health
a state of well-being that allows someone to be productive, have fulfilling relationships, cope with difficult circumstances, and adapt to change
are mental and physical health related
yes
describe one way that mental health affects physical health
being depressed can increase the risk for heart disease
describe one way that physical health affects mental health
regular exercise lowers the risk for and symptoms fo depression
why does being depressed increase the risk for heart disease
- less likely to seek and receive care
- less likely to stick with medications
what is the leading cause of death in the US
heart disease
what are symptoms of a panic attack
- sudden onset (acute)
- increased heart rate
- increases respiratory rate
- flushing
- sweating
why does exercise lower the risk for and symptoms fo depression
releases endorphins
how many adult americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year
- 1 in 5
- 45 million
how many americans will experience some form of mental illness during their lives
half
why do people get less mental health care than physical health care
- mental health coverage and access is less than physical health
- people hesitate to seek mental health help because of culture or stigma
- it can be hard for people to open up and be vulnerable about their mental health
what affects mental health
- biology
- social and psychosocial factors
- stress
describe how biology affects mental health
- some mental illness have genetic components (run in family history)
- neurotransmitters, hormones, physical health, and other factors can affect mental illnesses and how they are perceived
examples of mental illnesses that have genetic components
- schizophrenia
- anxiety
what gene codes for mental illnesses
we don’t know yet
what neurotransmitters are often linked to mental health
- serotonin
- dopamine
- norepinephrine
describe how social and psychosocial factors affect mental health (specifically of women)
the way women are treated affects their mental health
define distress
bad stress
define eustress
good stress
what hormone is often related to stress
cortisol
what are some effects of cortisol
- increases stress levels
- retention of abdominal fat
- blockage of estrogen
how does chronic stress physically affect the body
- increases blood pressure
- increases heart rate
- decreases immune system efficacy
who is more likely to internalize stress: women or men
women
describe what it means to internalize stress
- believe it is your fault
- try to deal with it or fix it on your own
what are the effects of coping with stress in a positive way
improves mental health
what mental illnesses are women more likely to have than men
- depression
- seasonal affective disorder
- anorexia/bulimia
- phobias/panic disorder
how much more likely are women to have depression than men
2x
how much more likely are women to have seasonal affective disorder than men
4x
how much more likely are women to have anorexia/bulimia than men
9x
how much more likely are women to have phobias/panic disorder than men
2x
what mental illnesses are men more likely to have than women
- schizophrenia
- antisocial personality disorder
- attention-deficit disorder
list mood disorders
- depression
- seasonal affective disorder
- bipolar disorder
describe depression and seasonal affective disorder
persistent and inescapable feelings of sadness, apathy, or both
describe bipolar disorder
mood swings from manic to depressive phases
describe manic episodes of bipolar disorder
- euphoria
- overly stimulated
- engaging in risky behaviors (drugs, unsafe sex)
- talk quickly
describe depressive episodes of bipolar disorder
- sadness
- apathy
- fatigue
how long are typical episodes of bipolar disorder
months long
describe the clinical diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder
4 cyclical episodes in 1 year
how many people in the US have bipolar disorder
- 900,000
- 0.4%
describe the gender differences in bipolar disorder
- men and women are just as likely to have bipolar disorder
- women are more likely to have extended depressive episodes than men
how is bipolar disorder treated
- medications
- self-medicating (alcohol, sensation seeking)
what is a common side effect of bipolar disorder medication
feeling emotionally flat (like a zombie)
what percent of people will develop depression in their lifetime
10-25%
how much less serotonin do women have than men
up to 50% less
treatments for depression
- antidepressant drugs (SSRIs)
- psychotherapy
- combination of therapy and drugs
what does SSRI stand for
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
list anxiety disorder
- generalized anxiety disorder
- phobias
- panic disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder
describe generalized anxiety disorder
- stress level always slightly elevated
- fear around natural disasters (hyperfocus)
how many people a year are clinically diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder
4 million
describe phobias
- intense fear of something that poses little risk to you
- spiders, cotton balls, chewing with mouth open, black cats
what percent of the US population has a phobia
1-1.5%
how are phobias often treated
exposure therapy
describe panic disorder
- panic attacks characterized by intense fear and physical and emotional distress
- acute attack lasting 10-15 minutes
- fight or flight kicking in
how many people per year are diagnosed with panic disorder
2 million
what is the acute rescue medication used for panic attacks
xanax
describe post-traumatic stress disorder
- occurs after an event that is perceived to be traumatic
- associated with violence
- a trigger may remind someone of the traumatic event resulting in panic, depression, violence, or aggression
- chronic (long-term)
how many people in a given year suffer from PTSD
- 1.5 million, but this is likely an extreme underestimate
- probably closer to 3 million
what did PTSD used to be called
shell shock
when was shell shock changed to PTSD
after WWI
what triggers can remind someone with PTSD of a traumatic event
- sounds
- feelings
- smells
- sights
what are people with PTSD protected by
the ADA, allowing them to receive accommodations
describe eating disorders
physical manifestation of a mental illness
list eating disorder
- anorexia nervosa
- bulimia nervosa
- binge eating disorder
- eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS)
what percent of the US population suffers from anorexia nervosa
0.1%
how do people with anorexia nervosa appear
very thin
symptoms of anorexia nervosa
- self-starvation (few 100 cals per day)
- intense fear of gaining weight
- distorted body image
- absence of 3 consecutive menstrual periods
- body weight at least 15% below normal weight based on height and age
how can you calculate the lowest weight you should be as a female based on height
- start at 5’ = 100 lbs
- add 5 lbs for every inch
why do people with anorexia nervosa experience amenorrhea
they have less body which lowers the estrogen in the body because estrogen is fat soluble
what is the clinical diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa
- absence of 3 consecutive menstrual periods
- body weight at least 15% below normal weight based on height and age
what percent of the US population has bulimia nervosa
0.9%
what percent of women in college have bulimia nervosa
3%
how many calories is considered a binge
2000-3000 calories in 1 sitting
how do people with bulimia nervosa appear
normal/average weight
what is the most common form of purging
vomiting
list forms of purging
- vomiting
- exercise
- laxatives
symptoms of bulimia nervosa
- recurrent episodes of bingeing and purging
- feeling out of control during a binge
- purging after a binge
- extreme concern with body weight and shape
what is a secondary issue with bulimia nervosa resulting from vomiting
issues with oral health (tooth loss, gum decay, oral sores)
what is the clinical diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa
2 episodes per week for 3 consecutive weeks
what percent of the US population has binge eating disorder
1.5%
how do people with binge eating disorder appear
obese or morbidly obese
describe binge eating disorder
compulsive overeating without purging
at least 3 of the following symptoms are needed for a clinical diagnosis of binge eating disorder:
- rapid, continuous eating (thousands of calories)
- eating when not physically hungry
- eating when alone
- eating beyond the point of comfort
- feeling self-disgust after a binge
describe EDNOS (eating disorders not otherwise specified)
catch-all category for eating disorders that don’t meet the clinical criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or BED
what percent of the US population has EDNOS
4-6%
what is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating
- eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis in the DSM 5
- disordered eating is a general unhealthy relationship with food that doesn’t meet any eating disorder criteria
how many middle school girls of normal weight go on a diet
1/3
is self-injury considered a suicide attempt
no
synonyms for self-injury
- self-inflicted violence
- self-injurious behavior
- self-mutilation
describe self-injury
- deliberate injury to one’s own body that causes tissue damage or leaves a mark for more than a few minutes
- done to cope with an overwhelming or distressing situation
why do people self-injure
- deal with emotional distress
- injury releases endorphins
- mind focuses on the physical pain
list forms of self-injury
- cutting (usually where others can’t see)
- pinching skin
- pulling hair
- ingesting chemicals
what is self-injury linked to
- anxiety
- depression
- eating disorders
why is it hard to get data on self-injury
people don’t talk about it or show others
define suicidal ideation
having a plan for suicide
what gender is more likely to suffer from suicidal ideation
women
what percent of suicide completions are men
80%
why are men more likely to complete suicide
men use more violent and quick methods
what is the number 1 way that men complete suicide
gun
what methods do women usually use to complete suicide
- pills
- poisonings
list risk factors for suicide
- adverse life events combined with depression
- prior suicide attempt
- family history of mental disorder or substance abuse
- family history of suicide
- family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
- firearms in home
- incarceration
