Relationship Btw Physical And Mental Health

Question 1

How are physical and mental health connected

Answer 1

A healthy person has good physical, mental and social wellbeing
Bd mental health can cause bad physical health and vice versa

Question 2

What factors influence mental and physical health

Answer 2

genetics, environment, relationships, education and employment

Question 3

Indicators of psychological stress

Answer 3

If you are placed in new situations
Unpredictable things happen to you
Uncontrollable things happen to you - lack of control results in learned helpless resulting in stress
Loss of perceived control is a big predictor of stress

Question 4

What are two coping strategies of stress

Answer 4

Avoidance is passive.
- You temporarily block out feelings of anxiety and fear as a way of evading the issue whilst you try to find the solution.
Distraction is active and time limited.
- When we are deep in stressful situation, we can take a break which can help us. By distracting ourself e.g. by watching TV we can clear our minds and bodies so going back to the activity becomes less stress inducing.

Question 5

Signs of stress

Answer 5

Biochemical: alteration to endorphin levels
Physiological: high BP, rapid shallow breathing, digestive problems
Behavioural: sleep problems, increased alcohol intake, increased errors
Cognitive: poor concentration & memory
Emotional: mood swings

Question 6

Psychological effects of stress

Answer 6

Anxiety
Depression
Mental breakdown
Lowered self esteem
Mood swings
Tension

Question 7

Physical effects of stress

Answer 7

Change in apetite
Headaches
Colds
Nausea
Angina
Irregular menstrual cycle

Question 8

Stress can lead to what risky health behaviours

Answer 8

Over eating
Road traffic accident
Drinking alcohol excessively
Smoking more
Exercise less

Question 9

How is clinical depression a risk factor

Answer 9

risk factor for all-cause mortality (all causes of death), and morbidity
It is also a risk for cardiac mortality in people with coronary heart disease.

Question 10

Relationship between stress and gastrointestinal health

Answer 10

E.g. exposure to a stress accelerates transfer of water from small intestine to large intestine leading to a gut churning feeling.
Stress effects Bowel function
A biopsychosocial approach is required for GI medicine, e.g. are ulcers caused by a bacterium or by stress and lifestyle factors

Question 11

What can stress in pregnancy cause

Answer 11

Stress in pregnancy can impact child outcome via epigenetics e.g. differences in DNA methylation

Question 12

What is a placebo effect

Answer 12

Fake treatment that has no active ingredient results in reports of feeling better

Question 13

Wht is nocebo effect

Answer 13

Develop symptoms even thought you have not been exposed to a pathogen.
E.g. students were given substance to inhale and they were told it was a toxin and would make them ill even though it was just air.

Question 14

What are physical manifestations of mental illness

Answer 14

It is the presentation of physical symptoms due to a mental health condition.
Varies across cultures
In cultures where mental health is seen to have serious stigmatizing consequences physical presentation of symptoms is more common.
Culture bound syndromes are a thing

Question 15

Are people resilient to stress

Answer 15

Majority of people are resilient to stress
Trauma and serious events occur to 50% of people however prevalence of PTSD is 10%
Most people who experience a traumatic event recover.

Question 16

What are dandelion children and orchid children

Answer 16

Dandelion children are in the majority and are usually able to cope with stress and hardships.

Orchid children are in the minority and are more sensitive to good and bad environments
They’ll do exceptionally well in a good environment
They’ll do poorly in a bad environment
They find it difficult to cope with stress.

Question 17

Keys to a longer happier life

Answer 17

To maintain a sense of purpose,
positive relationships
healthy habits including eating healthy,
sufficient exercise
sufficient sleep

Question 18

Implications of mental and physical health for clinical practice

Answer 18

Consider how the patient and the illness might interact
Think about the relative contributions of social and psychological factors
Don’t simply treat the symptoms – think about the causes