Psychobiology of disease

Question 1

What is the fight vs flight response?

Answer 1

Physiological response to stress

Question 2

What are the three stages of Selye’s general adaption syndrome?

Answer 2

Stage 1- Alarm reaction- shift to sympathetic dominance therefore increasing arousal
Stage 2- Resistance- endocrine system releases ACTH to maintain increased arousal
Stage 3- Exhaustion- adrenals lose ability to function normally

Question 3

Describe the steptoe et al study on health behaviour and stress (pathways from stress to disease)?

Answer 3

It looked at the interaction between health behaviour and social support
During exam period, those with high levels of social support smoked less and vice versa- though same baseline without stress
With regards to alcohol, those with high support drank more than those with low at baseline but during exams this switched

Question 4

What is the effect of stress on immune system?

Answer 4

It leads to immunosuppression

Question 5

What did the Cohen et al study on stress and colds show?

Answer 5

It was a study on effects of stress on immune function. Volunteers were exposed to a nasal wash containing the cold virus and patients were asked to rate their level of stress.
The more stressed the volunteers were, the more likely they were to become ill with the cold

Question 6

What is type A behaviour?

Answer 6

Time urgency
Free-floating hostility
Hyper-Aggressiveness
Focus on accomplishment
Competitive and goal driven

Question 7

What is the effect of type A behaviour on health?

Answer 7

It increases risk of coronary heart disease

Question 8

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 8

Inactive substance like sugar, distilled water or saline solution- can sometimes improve a patient’s condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful

Question 9

What is the effect of social support on health?

Answer 9

Individuals with adequate social relationships have 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with poor or insufficient social relationships,, it exerts an effect beyond protective physiological role and is associated with decreased mortality

Question 10

What techniques are there for managing stress?

Answer 10

Organisation
Time management
Recognising stress
Appraisal review 
Relaxation techniques
Social support 
Formal support