Unit 4 AOS 2: Mental Health Flashcards
What is mental health?
- State of well being in which an individual realises his/her own abilities, can cope wit the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and make a contribution to their community
What are mental health problems?
- Temporary
- Negative perceptions, attitudes and feelings
- Social withdrawals
- Recover quickly/bounce back from situation
What are mental disorders?
- Clinically recognised set of symptoms
- Impacts daily functioning
- Affects thoughts, behaviours and feelings
Internal factors which impact mental health
- Genetics
- Thoughts/feelings
- Nutrition
External factors which impact mental health
- Social relationships
- Life events
- Employment
What are the typical characteristics of a mentally healthy person?
- High levels of functioning; independence, goals development
- Social well being: connected, reciprocated, valued, desired
- Emotional well being: balanced, normal range, strategies
- Resilience: the capacity to recover quickly from set backs
What is a Placebo?
- A fake or false drug or treatment
What is the Placebo Effect?
- A change in participant behaviour due to expectation regarding the treatment they are receiving
Predisposing risk factor
- Increase susceptibility
Precipitating risk factor
- Increase susceptibility and contribute to occurrence
Perpetuating risk factor
- Inhibit recovery
Protective risk factor
- Prevent occurrence/re-occurrence
Example of predisposing risk factor
- Genetics
- Hormones (different hormone levels)
- Temperament (how we deal with things)
- Poverty
Example of precipitating risk factor
- Stressful life situations
- Traumatic experience
- Long term medication
Examples of perpetuating risk factors
- Poor health
- Stigma (not seeking treatment due to fear/lack of understanding)
- Lack of social support (desire but no encouragement)
- Conflict in relationship
- Drug/alcohol problems
Examples of protective factors
- Good health/sleep
- Hormonal balance
- Resilience
- Resources
- Strong social support
Biological risk factors of metal health
- Genetic vulnerability (genes passed on by our parents leave us more susceptible)
- Poor response to medication due to genetic factors
- Poor sleep (associated with anxiety and mood disorders)
- Substance use (changing of chemicals in the brain leaving imbalance)
Psychological risk factors of mental health
- Rumination (overthinking/obsessing over something)
- Impaired reasoning and memory
- Stress
- Poor self-efficacy (no confidence in yourself)
Social risk factors of mental health
- Disorganised attachment (struggle with relationships, avoidant personality)
- Loss of significant relationship
- Stigma (avoiding getting help)
What is cumulative risk?
- Biological, psychological and social factors combined to precipitate a mental disorder
Similarities between stress, phobia and anxiety
- All cause physiological arousal
- Anxiety and a phobia rare both stress response’s
- Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder
Differences between stress, phobia and anxiety
- Phobia is an irrational thought
- Stress is normal
Biological contributing factors for a specific phobia
- GABA dysfunction (lower amounts of GABA mean higher rates of anxiety as GABA acts as a calming agent to excitatory neurotransmitters that lead to anxiety)
- Stress (FFF activated every-time perceived stressor is confronted which leads to development of phobia)
- LTP strengthen neural pathways (amygdala processes emotional memories such as fear and hippocampus responsible for formation of declarative memories)
Psychological contributing factors to a specific phobia
- Specific phobia can be learnt through CLASSICAL CONDITIONING and maintained by OPERANT
- Cognitive bias (thinking in a way that involves error of judgement and fault decision making)
- Catastrophic thinking (thinking the worst)
Social contributing factors to a specific phobia
- Environmental triggers (direct exposure to a traumatic/distressing event)
- Stigma
Biological interventions for phobia
- Benzodiazapene (anti-anxiety medication)
- Agonist (stimulates GABA receptors enhancing effect
- Exercise (releases beta-like endorphins)
Psychological interventions for phobia
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Uses a mix of verbal/behavioural techniques to rid of irrational thoughts that create phobia
- Focuses on helping change negative thoughts to positive ones
- Systematic desensitisation
Social interventions for phobia
- Psychoeducation
- Challenges unrealistic thoughts
- Discourages avoidance behaviours
Biological protective factor for mental health
- Adequate sleep (cognitive abilities declined as well as poor memory skills and fatigue)
- Adequate diet
Psychological protective factor for mental health
- CBT
- Changing negative thoughts to positive
Social protective factor for mental health
- Support from family, friends and community
Transtheoretical model for behaviour change
- Assess an indiviudals readiness to change by looking at different stages
- An individual may change/go through as they move towards healthier behaviour
Transtheoretical model: Precontemplation
- Individual has no intention to take action within next 6 months
Transtheoretical model: Contemplation
- Intends to take action in next 6 months
Transtheoretical model: Preparation
- Intends to take action in the next 30 days
Transtheoretical model: Action
- Individual changes behaviour for less than 6 months
Transtheoretical model: Maintenance
- Changes behaviour for more than 6 months
