Percentage Percentage
Unlike many leading
U.S.deaths U.S.deaths killers a century ago,
todays major
30 30 killers are more
lifestyle-related
20 20
10 10
0 0
Tuber- Pneu- Diarrhea/ Heart Heart Cancer Strokes Chronic
culosis monia enteritis disease disease lung disease
1900 1991
What is Stress?
Stressors Stress
Catastrophes
Life changes the process by
Hassles
which we perceive
Intervening
factors and respond to
Appraisal
Perceived control
certain events,
Personality Stress called stressors, that
Social support reactions
Coping behaviors Physiological
we appraise as
Emotional threatening or
Behavioral
challenging
Stressful Life Events
Catastrophic Events
earthquakes, combat stress, floods
Life Changes
death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, promotion
Daily Hassles
rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, burnout
Perceived Control
loss of control can increase stress hormones
Measuring Life Changes
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Outline of 43 life events from most to least stressful
Point value assigned to each event
Negative and positive events both cause stress
Point totals describe impact of stress and chance of illness over a
two-year period
Score of 150-300: 50% chance of stress-related illness within 2
years
Score of 300+: 80% chance of stress-related illness within 2 years
Change in ones life requires an effort to adapt and then an effort to
regain stability
Shortcomings of SRRS include:
Individuals coping styles not taken into account
Good coping strategies reduce impact of each stressful event
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rights reserved.
Responding to Stress
The General Adaptation Syndrome
The predictable sequence of reactions (stages) that organisms show in
response to stressors
1. Alarm Stage
Burst of energy that aids in dealing with the stressful situation
Adrenal cortex releases hormones called glucocorticoids
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels
2. Resistance stage
Intense physiological efforts to either resist or adapt
Glucocorticoids continue to be released
Length of stage based on stressor intensity and ability to adapt
3. Exhaustion stage
Occurs if an organism fails in its efforts to resist the stressor
Stores of energy are depleted
Autonomic nervous
Unhealthy behaviors system effects
(smoking, drinking, (headaches,
poor nutrition and sleep) hypertension)
Defensive coping
Use of defense mechanisms as protection against the
unpleasant emotions brought on by stress.
Small illusions may be beneficial, large distortions are
maladaptive.
Constructive coping
Confront problems directly
Realistic appraisal of stress and coping resources
Learn to recognize and stop disruptive emotional reactions
Make efforts to protect the body from the damaging effects
of stress
Personal Factors Reducing
The Impact of Stress and Illness
Optimism
Cope more effectively with stress
Reduced risk of illness
Generally expect good outcomes
Find positives even in the darkest circumstances
Generally more stress resistant
Diagnostic features
Specific cultural, age and gender features
Prevalence
Course of the disorder
Familial pattern
Examples of compulsions:
Hand washing
Checking
Collecting
Repeating behaviors (in and out of a door)
Arranging things
Cleaning
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Explaining Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPFQM
Rx2l3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44DCW
slbsNM&feature=fvwrel
Schizophrenia
A severe psychological disorder characterized by loss of
contact with reality, hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate or
flat affect, some disturbance in thinking, social withdrawal,
and/or other bizarre behavior
Includes a class of disorders
Prevalence rate1% of the population
Genetic vulnerability
Evidence suggests heredity plays a role
Identical twins concordance rates-48%
Offspring of two schizophrenic parents has
about a 46% probability of developing the
condition.
.
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Somatoform Disorders
Conversion Disorder
A person suffers a loss of motor or sensory functioning
in some part of the body
Loss has no physical cause but solves some
psychological problem
May become blind, deaf, unable to speak, or paralysis
in some part of the body
Freud believed it is an unconscious process to help
solve an unconscious sexual or aggressive conflict
.
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Therapies
Psychodynamic therapies
Attempt to uncover childhood experiences
that are thought to explain a patients
current difficulties
Psychoanalysis
Freuds first psychodynamic therapy
Uses free association and dream
analysis
Person-Centered Therapy
A nondirective, humanistic therapy
Developed by Carl Rogers
Therapist creates an accepting climate and shows empathy
Unconditional positive regard
Frees clients to be themselves, releasing their natural tendency
toward self-actualization
Psychological disorders result when a persons natural tendency
towards self-actualization is blocked by oneself or others
Therapist empathizes with clients concerns and emotions
Reflecting listening used in responses, allowing the client to
control the direction of the sessions
.
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Behavior Therapies
.
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Cognitive Therapies
Assume maladaptive behavior can result from irrational thoughts,
beliefs, and ideas
Often called cognitive-behavioral approach
Combine cognitive insight with methodological behavioral
approach
Therapists seek to change the way clients think
Determine effectiveness by assessing changes in the
clients behavior
Effective in treatment of:
Anxiety disorders
Hypochondriasis
Psychological drug dependence
.
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Antidepressant Drugs
Second generation antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Block the reuptake of serotonin increasing
availability at the brain synapses
Fewer side effects and safer in case of overdose
Effective in treating:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Social phobia
Panic disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
.
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
An electric current is passed through the right hemisphere of the brain
Usually reserved for severely depressed patients who are suicidal and dont
respond to other treatments
Highly effective for major depression
Unilateral ECT used today instead of bilateral ECT
Equally effective with milder cognitive side-effects
Patients are given anesthesia, controlled oxygenation, and a muscle
relaxant
When effective, ECT:
Changes the biochemical balance in the brain
Reduces cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex
No structural brain damage demonstrated in MRI or CT scans
.
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