Stress Flashcards
Explain why stress can have positive and negative consequences
Positive - alertness, optimal
Negative - decreased performance, health (CVS/inflammation/immune system/unhealthy behaviours/mental health)
Alarm (can’t sustain) –> Resistance (high level) –> Exhaustion (resources depleted)
Describe the physiological responses involved in stress
Fight or flight - short term, triggered by catecholamines, sympathetic ANS –> increased oxygen, fuel, mental function, physical function
HPA axis - longer term, cortisol –> regulation of BP, immune system, inflammatory response
Define the term ‘stressor’ and describe tools to measure stress based on stressors
Stressors - external or internal events that trigger stress responses
(Acute stressors vs daily hassles/chronic stressors)
Measuring stressors:
Stressful life events vs daily hassles and uplifts
Use the transactional model to explain stress as a process
Impact of different stressors, differences between individuals
Stressors Resources –> Appraisal Stress response
Define ‘primary’, ‘secondary appraisal’ and ‘reappraisal’
Primary appraisal - threat of stressor
Secondary appraisal - resources/skills to cope (personality, social support, coping skills)
Reappraisal - reassess situation –> more/less stressful?
Identify important factors that moderate the impact of stress
Control (decreased control = increased stress)
Social support
Describe the different ways that stress can impact negatively on health
Physical damage - cardiovascular system, inflammation
Immune system - common cold, flu
Unhealthy behaviours - smoking, drinking (help in short term)
Mental health - cognitive distortions, rumination, learned helplessness
Outline strategies for managing stress
Cognitive
Behavioural e.g. time management
Emotional e.g. social support, counselling
Physical e.g. exercise, relaxation
Describe the range of factors that patients with chronic illnesses have to cope with
Illness - diagnosis, socioeconomic impact, adjustment, hospitalisation, treatment, physical
Other life events - financial, family, personal, workplace
Define the terms ‘emotion-focused coping’ and ‘problem-faced coping’ and give examples of each of these approaches
Emotion-focused coping - change the emotion e.g. talk, alcohol, denial, focus on positive
Problem-focused coping - change the problem or resources e.g. advice on handling, advice to improve situation
Describe ways to aid patients’ coping and give relevant examples of useful approaches for individual patient cases
Social support
Personal control - choices, pain management
Prepare patients - communication, reduce ambiguity
Stress management
Explain why patients with chronic illnesses are at increased risk of mental health problems
Direct pathways e.g. immune system
Indirect pathways e.g. compromised QOL, impact on coping, poor self management
Anxiety - response to a threat, unpleasant emotional state, unhelpful thinking patterns
Depression - response to loss, failure, helplessness, long term, emotional state, comorbid depression can exacerbate pain
Describe barriers to identifying psychological difficulties in patients
HCP avoids asking Gradual change over time Patient doesn't want to 'complain' Stigma Patient wants to avoid being judged HCP may not want to 'label' patient
Outline NICE guidelines for managing anxiety and depression
Anxiety - medication, psychological interventions
Depression - antidepressants
Describe the limitations of a biomedical model of pain
Pain with no physical damage
Pain continues after tissue damage heals
Negative mood = more intense pain
