Psychology 7a - Psychobiology Flashcards
1
Q
What is stress?
A
- A stimulus
- Events that place strong demands on us are stressors
- Eg. exam period
- A response
- Physiological response to stress (fight-flight)
- Presence of negative emotions, difficulty concentrating
2
Q
What are the effects of stress?
A
- SNS activation
- HPA axis activation (cortisol production)
- Adaptive response
- Exhaustion of adrenal glands in chronic stress
3
Q
Describe the transactional model of stress
A
- Stress occurs when there is imbalance between percieved demands and the resources we have to deal with these demands
- Primary appraisal to determine if a threat is present, secondary appraisal to determine how to cope with the threat
- May be perception of an inability to cope or ability to cope
4
Q
Describe cognitive appraisal using exams as an example
A
- When considering an exam you will evaluate how hard it will be and how much it counts (primary appraisal) and how your current knowledge equips you to pass (secondary appraisal)
- You will also take into account potential consequences of failing with regards to their likelihood and seriousness
- Finally, the psychological meaning of the consequences may be related to your beliefs about yourself or the world, e.g. “I am a total failure if I don’t do well in all my exams”
5
Q
Describe Yerkes-Dodsan Law
A
- It is good to have a small amount of stress arousal, with small amount of arousal there is optimal level of performance
- Performance impaired with strong anxiety
- Low arousal weak performance as there is low interest
6
Q
Describe behavioural change pathways from stress to disease, using examples
A
- Stress can cause behavioural changes that increase risk of disease
- Eg. increased smoking and alcohol just before an exam, decreased exercise.
- Increased smoking in those with low levels of perceived support and increased alcohol use compared with those with high levels of perceived support
7
Q
Describe physiological stress pathways from stress to disease, using examples
A
- Stress may cause physiological changes that increase risk of disease
- Eg. significantly increased incidence of heart attack at the time of the world cup (day of match to 2 days after)
- Eg. anxiety is associated with 52% increased risk of heart disease (independent of traditional risk factors and depression)
- Eg. heightened cortisol reactivity in response to mental stressors associated with greater extent of coronary artery calcification
- Eg. mucosal wound healing time increases just before a major exam by an average of 40% longer (possibly due to declined interleukin 1)
8
Q
How does personality relate to illness?
A
- Western collaborative group study found that type A behaviour pattern increased CHD risk in healthy males by double when controlling other risk factors
- Type A behaviour pattern alone, when compared to type B increased risk by 31%
- Role of hostility may be a key type A behavioural factor in CHD
- Due to poor health behaviours, increased physiological response to stresses, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis
- Possible link between type D behaviour (social inhibition and negative effect) has relationship with CHD due to underreporting of symptoms
9
Q
Give examples of the type A behaviour pattern
A
- Time urgency
- Free floating hostility
- Hyper-aggressiveness
- Focus on accomplishment
- Competitive and goal driven
10
Q
What is depression a risk factor for?
A
- Development of CHD
- Prognosis of CHD (higher risk of mortality in the first two years)
- Possible due to physiological changes (platelet activity) or behavioural changes (lack of physical activity)
- Depression is a more significant risk factor of mortality than previous MI/ severity of MI
11
Q
How is stress coped with?
A
- Problem focused (planning, active coping and problem solving, assertive confrontation)
- Emotion focused (acceptance or denial, repression, positive reinterpretation)
- Seeking social support (help and guidance, emotional support)
- Approach vs avoidance techniques
- Swearing as pain relief (swearing decreased perceived pain in a study using cold pressor, as well as increasing time in cold, possibly via fight or flight activation)
12
Q
Describe approach and avoidance techniques of dealing with stress
A
- Approach is activity that is oriented toward a threat (e.g. problem-solving, planning a response). People may want to discuss illness and treatment in detail
- Avoidance is activity that is oriented away from a threat (e.g., denial, distraction). People may find it difficult to engage in discussions around illness and treatment
- Utility of coping style may depend on the situation
13
Q
How does social support affect stress?
A
- People with higher social support had a 50% greater likelihood of longer survival compared to those with lower support
- Controlled for depression
- Breast cancer survival increased with social support, as did quality of life
14
Q
How does branding affect pain relief?
A
- Branded analgesic had significantly more effect than non-branded analgesic
- Placebo in branded box had significantly more effect than placebo in a non-branded box
- Due to placebo effect
15
Q
What is the placebo effect?
A
The phenomenon in which a placebo - an 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.
