The Role of Stress in Illness^

Question 1

immunosuppression

Answer 1

stress suppresses the immune system
done directly by cortisol
indirectly with lifestyle

Question 2

Effects of Chronic Stressors

Answer 2

Kiecolt-Glaser et al
75 students gave blood samples at high or low stress periods
questionnaire on source of stress and symptoms
NK and Killer T cells decrease between reading
- CS causes immunosupp.
esp. true for those going through other stressors or are lonely

Question 3

Looking After Ill Relatives

Answer 3

Kiecolt-Glaser et al
longitudinal, matched pairs study
compare carers for Alzheimer’s VS non carers
carers had weaker immune response
had infectious illnesses on more days
higher levels of depression
- 32% VS 6% in CG

Question 4

Real World Application

Answer 4

real benefits
Dharbhar’s
research into acute stressors led to patients getting low dose of stress hormones before surgery
stimulate the IS and increase recovery changes
benefit real people and confirm imp. of stress to IS functioning

Question 5

Stress Can Be Protective

Answer 5

decrease likelyness of illness
Dharbhar
stress can have immunoechancing effects
rats subjected to AS
immune cells flooded the bloodstream and body tissues to prepare for phy. damage
AS may not have same immunosup. effects like CS
knowledge not understood

Question 6

Methodology

Answer 6

lab exp
measure effects of AS while controlling confouding variables
establish that stress causes suppression that leads to illness
don’t tell us about real life stressors

Question 7

Cardiovascular Disorders

Answer 7

Acute Effect: increase of adrenaline = increase of heart rate
Chronic Effect: high levels of adrenaline for long can have long term effects (CVDs)

Question 8

Acute Stress Research

Answer 8

Wilbert-Lampen et al
look at heart attacks in Ger football fans
when Ger played: cardiac emergencies increased by 2.66 VS CG
AS can double risk of CVDs

Question 9

Chronic Stress Research

Answer 9

Yusuf et al
examined CS in the interheart study
52 countries to identify CS
compared 15000 people who had a heart attack VS those without
CS linked to workplace

Question 10

Direct VS Indirect Effects

Answer 10

effects of stress of CVDs are mostly indirect
Orth-Gomer et al
- marital stress tripled the risk of HA in women with CVD
- diff from saying stress causes CVD
Stress increases person’s vulnerability to CVD through indirect effects

Question 11

Research Support

Answer 11

link between stress and CVD
Song et al
- identified 130,000+ people with stress related disorders
- other P were uneffected siblings and million without SRD
- VS CG: people with SRD had 64% more risk of CVD in 1st year after diagnosis
exposure to CS = increase of CVD risk