Health Psychology and Psychological Disorders

Health psychology plays a crucial role in addressing physical health and wellness issues by examining how behavioral and mental processes impact overall well-being. This module explored the intersection of health psychology with behavioral and mental processes, stress, coping mechanisms, positive psychology, psychological disorders, and treatment approaches.

Health Psychology and Physical Well-being

Stress is a significant factor that can heighten the risk of disorders and diseases, affecting physiological functions such as hypertension, headaches, and immune suppression. Stressors can either motivate or debilitate individuals, ranging from traumatic events to daily hassles that accumulate over time. Adverse childhood experiences can have lasting effects on an individual's health.

General Adaptation Syndrome

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) illustrates the stages of the stress response, starting with the alarm reaction when stress is encountered, followed by the resistance phase as the body copes with the stress, and concluding with the exhaustion phase when resources are depleted, leading to vulnerability to illness.

Coping Mechanisms

The Tendon to Befriend Theory suggests that individuals may respond to stress by seeking connections with others, particularly observed in women. Coping mechanisms vary between problem-focused, which involves actively solving stress-related problems, and emotion-focused, which focuses on managing emotional responses through techniques like deep breathing or meditation.

Positive Psychology and Subjective Experiences

Positive psychology emphasizes factors contributing to well-being, resilience, and positive emotions. Practices such as expressing gratitude can enhance subjective well-being. Utilizing one's strengths and virtues can lead to increased happiness. Post-traumatic growth highlights the potential for personal growth following traumatic experiences. The classification of character strengths includes virtues like wisdom, courage, justice, and transcendence.

Psychological Disorders and Perspectives

When defining psychological disorders, various perspectives are considered. The behavioral perspective attributes disorders to learned associations between stimuli, while the psychodynamic perspective emphasizes unconscious thoughts developed in childhood. The humanistic perspective focuses on lack of social support, and the cognitive perspective targets maladaptive thoughts and beliefs. The evolutionary perspective examines behaviors that affect survival, and the sociocultural perspective considers social and cultural dynamics. Biological factors, such as genetics, are central in the biological perspective.

Types of Psychological Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders
Depressive Disorders
Bipolar Disorders
Anxiety Disorders

Treatment Approaches for Psychological Disorders

Psychotherapy plays a vital role in treating psychological disorders. Therapists employ various techniques based on different perspectives. Evidence-based interventions are commonly used to develop treatment plans. Psychotropic medications interact with neurotransmitters to address the biochemical causes of disorders. Therapists must adhere to ethical principles outlined by the APA when treating clients.

In conclusion, understanding health psychology and psychological disorders is essential for promoting overall well-being and addressing mental health challenges through a comprehensive approach involving therapy, medication, and ethical practices.

Terms to Know

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