Psychobiology of Disease

Question 1

What are the components of the transactional model of stress?

Answer 1

When a stressful situation or event happens there is first the primary appraisal = evaluating the demands of the situation/how difficult is this situation;
then if there is no threat perceived then fine
if there is a threat perceived it undergoes a second appraisal = evaluating the ability to deal with the threat (do I have enough resources to cope with this situation?).
If then there is perceived inability to deal with threat it causes negative stress and if there is perceived ability to deal with it then it is positive stress

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Stage 1: Alarm Reaction– shift to sympathetic dominance –increased arousal
Stage 2: Resistance – endocrine system produces ACTH to maintain the increased arousal as resistance to stress is increasing
Stage 3: Exhaustion– adrenals lose their ability to function normally and there is rapidly declining stress resistance to very low levels

Question 3

Describe the psycho-psychological and behavioural pathways linking stress and disease.

Answer 3

Events cause stress
Stress leads to physiological changes and behavioural changes
These lead to disease

Question 4

What effect does stress have on the immune system?

Answer 4

Immunosuppression

Question 5

What is Type A behaviour?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is the link between Type A behaviour and cardiovascular disease?

Answer 6

Increased risk of coronary heart disease

NOTE: the Western Collaborative Group Study confirmed this

Question 7

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 7

An inactive substance can sometimes improve a patient’s condition simply because the patient has the expectation that it will be helpful

Question 8

What is the nocebo effect?

Answer 8

A negative effect that occurs after receiving treatment despite the treatment being inert/sham - warnings about side-effects makes it much more likely that a patient will report experiencing those side effects (1 in 20 placebo treated patients discontinued treatment bc of ‘side effects’)

Question 9

Describe the relationship between social support/relationships and health.

Answer 9

Individuals with adequate social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with poor or insufficient social relationships
Social support exerts effects beyond the protective psychological role
High social support is associated with decreased mortality