Week 4 Flashcards
When is an event stressful?
Depends on the threat value and the resources of an individual to cope with the stressful situation.
The physiological stress response
We have 2 important stress systems:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS / SAM): fast, immediate action.
2. Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA): slow, longer-term arousal.
Why is the SNS fast and the HPA slow?
The SNS works via neurotransmitters (like cortisol) and works very quickly and the HPA works with hormons, which go through blood and move much slower.
The immune system and stress
The SNS and HPA have a direct bidirectional relation with the immune systems and most immune cells have receptors for the major stress mediatros.
Acute vs. prolonged stess
Acute physiological responses to stres are considered adaptive. The stress response will be turned off automatically. But this is different with the prolonged stress response. This will cause tissue damage, and the feedback loop will stop working. this is why diseases can occur.
Stress reactivity / stress recovery
This is the capacity or tendency to respond to a stressor. This causes our stress levels to go back to normal. But patients often have a blunt or minimal stress-response due to tissue damage.
Positive effects of cortisol
- Essential in regulating the immune system.
- Increased availability of energy and inhibition inflammation.
- Has its own shut-off.
Negative effects of cortisol (when there is too much stress)
- Decreased energy by exerting negative feedback effects of the HPA axis
- Brain damage and cognitive declines.
- Reduced ability to adapt to stressors.
Stress and the brain
Chronic stress causes remodelling of dendrites and synaptic connection in the hippocampus, amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. These areas also control the cortisol production, which is now reduced and caused a blunt-stress reaction and no off-button.
Genetic variation in stress-levels
Genetic variation linked to HPA functioning moderates the effects of early life stress on threat-related amygdala functioning. This may increase the risk for anxiety symptoms.
Stress and cognitive function
Stress affects cognitive performance, particularly memory and attention.
General Adaptation Syndrome
The process your body goes through when you are exposed to any kind of stress. The stress response is an innate drive to maintain homeostasis. There are 3 stages to this:
1. Alarm: initial response, increased arousal.
2. Resistance: adaption to the stressor, mobilisation of bodily defences.
3. Exhaustion: depletion of bodily resources.
Criticism: the physiologicial response can differ depending on the type of stressor.
Life events and susceptibility to psychopathology
If people experience more cumulative life-stress they have an increased risk of developing major psychopahtological diseases. A predisposition for psychopathology after cardiac surgery mainly depends on trait anxiety and life events, but generic variation of the HPA-axis, gender and age are important as well.
Transactional model of stress
Cognitive appraisal is a central aspect as to whether something is considered as stressful and if the stressor is bad for you. Your thoughts / interpretations of situations mediate the stress response.
Cognitive-transactional model of stress (Lazarus)
Appraisal goed in 2 steps:
1. Primary appraisal (perceived demands): is it a challenge or a threat? Does is lead to growth or harm / loss?
- Secondary appraisal (resources): personal capacity to reduce the stressor, consideration of resources and coping potential:
- With effective options this leads to low threat.
- With ineffective options this leads to high threat.
