Chapter 7 Physical Disorders and Health Psychology Physical

Chapter 7 Physical Disorders and Health Psychology

Physical Disorders • Can cause psychological symptoms • Different from conversion disorders • Actually disease causing the psychological problems • Psychological problems can make a physical disorder worse • Good coping can make them better

Behavioral Medicine • Behavioral science applied to • Prevention • Diagnosis • Treatment • Health Psychology • Subfield of behavioral medicine • Psychological factors that are important to the promotion and maintenance of health

Behaviors • Behaviors lead to or prevent disease • Behaviors impact management of disease- from diagnosis (undergrad thesis- stigma in std testing), adherence to meds, further behaviors leading to worsening or improving health • Impact of psychology • Psychology impacts behaviors • Behaviors impact psychology

Prevention and Risk • Risky behaviors can lead to disease • Stigma • Guilt • Shame • Behaviors can make things better or worse • Diabetes- diet/exercise can work for or against you • CF- doing treatments better outcomes, don’t do them-very sick

Lifestyle • In general- diet, physical activity etc lead to long term consequences • Being tired • Stress- alarm, resistance, exhaustion • • Stress hormones (cortisol)- cell death, immune system Predictability and controllability Diathesis stress model- can trigger psychological problems More likely to become ill, be chronically ill

Similarities • Stress • Anxiety • Depression • Excitement • Sense of control • Can you cope with upcoming threat or challenge

Physiology • Heart beat rapid • Burst of energy • Jumpy stomach • Excitement is pleasurable • Attribution • Challenge or task- certain circumstances would be fine, others e. g. , lack of resources • Tension, irritability, headache, upset stomach

Stress versus anxiety versus depression • What is the difference • Sense of control • Anxiety you have no control • stress you do-takes a lot of effort to be in control • Depression- no longer trying to cope • Self-efficacy • Our sense of control and confidence that we can cope with stress or challenges • Phenomenon in high school- OMG I’m so stressed/nervous… wait a second. .

Stress and the Immune System • Chance of getting the cold directly related to amount of stress • Intensity of stress and negative affect linked to severity of cold • Social- less likely, socializing with friends relieves stress • Depression lowers immune system functioning • Sense of uncontrollability • Poor self care • Risky behaviors • Sense of control may be one of the most important psychological contributions to good health