© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Abnormal Psychology, Eighth Edition by Gerald C. Davison and John M. Neale Lecture notes created by Paul J. Wellman, Texas A&M University PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation Chapter 8 Psychophysiological Disorders and Health Psychology Ch 8

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Psychophysiological Disorders Psychophysiological Disorders involve genuine physical disorders –Physical symptoms can be caused by or worsened by emotional distress –The category recognizes that a broad range of diseases involving the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and central nervous systems can be influenced by stress Ch 8.1

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Definitions of Stress Stress is: –An environmental condition that triggers psychopathology –A response to environmental conditions that leads to emotional upset, deteriorating performance or physiological changes Stressors are stimuli Cognitive view of stress places emphasis on the interpretation of external stimuli –Coping refers to how people deal with stress Ch 8.2

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e The General Adaptation Syndrome Ch 8.3

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Measuring Stress The Social Readjustment Rating Scale –Asked subjects to rate various life experiences for stress impact (marriage = 500) –Total score on the scale is correlated with diseases such as heart attack and leukemia Assessment of Daily Experience –Subjects record and rate their life experiences during each day –Subsequent study has shown that adverse life events increase prior to an illness Ch 8.4

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Biological Theories of the Stress-Illness Link Somatic-Weakness theory holds that a weak organ system may be susceptible to disruption by stress Specific-Reaction theory suggests that people respond to stress in unique ways, some organ systems show greater reactivity than do other systems Stress diminishes the function of the immune system Ch 8.5

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Psychological Theories of the Stress-Illness Link Psychoanalytic view holds that specific conflicts give rise to psychophysiological disorders Cognitive-Behavioral view proposes that humans have higher cognitive functions which can amplify and extend the duration of arousal of our bodies Ch 8.6

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Hypertension Hypertension is high blood pressure (bp) –Hypertension leads to heart attacks and strokes Systolic bp is arterial pressure during contraction of the ventricles of the heart Diastolic bp is arterial pressure during relaxation of the ventricles of the heart –Increased bp is brought on by increased cardiac output (more blood leaving the heart) or by vasoconstriction of the arteries Ch 8.7

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Stress and BP Stressful conditions produce a short-term increase in blood pressure –These increases return to baseline when the stressor is withdrawn Studies of blood pressure done on ambulatory subjects reveal that anger is most strongly linked to elevated bp –The changes were large in a subset of subjects –Reactivity refers to increased bp and heart rate in response to stress Ch 8.8

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Coronary Heart Disease Coronary Heart Disease refers to –Angina pectoris: periodic chest pains Reduced oxygen supply to heart –Myocardial infarction: heart attack Brought on by a cutoff of oxygen to the heart muscle Risk factors for MI include age, gender (males), elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, excessive use of alcohol and diabetes Ch 8.9

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Diatheses for CHD Psychological diatheses for CHD include: –Type A behavior pattern (time urgency, competitive, aggressive/hostile) –High levels of anger –Cynicism –Type D personality: high levels of anger, anxiety and depression as well as low levels of emotional expression Biological diatheses: focus is on reactivity Ch 8.10

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e AIDS –Is a fatal disease caused viral infection –Compromises the immune system AIDS –Arises from irrational and self-defeating behavior –Is not presently curable or preventable by medical means –Is preventable by psychological means Ch 8.11

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Therapies for Psychophysiological Disorders Drug interventions can be used to reduce the physical symptoms brought on by stress Reduction of anxiety, depression or anger is a key element in the treatment of stress-related disorders –Psychoanalysis: uses free association –Cognitive/behavioral: uses systematic desensitization, in vivo exposure, assertion training Ch 8.12

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Treating Hypertension Non-pharmacological treatments include: –Losing weight –Reducing salt intake –Giving up smoking –Limiting alcohol intake –Getting regular exercise –Relaxation training –Reducing anger Ch 8.13

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Stress Management Stress Management is a set of techniques used to cope with stress –Arousal can be reduced through relaxation training or by biofeedback –Cognitive restructuring can be used to alter the thought patterns of a person and to increase their perceived level of control –Behavioral skills training relating to time management and how to prioritize –Train the person in how to alter their environment Ch 8.14

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Pain Management Pain can be modified by –Distraction –Refocusing attention –Lowering anxiety –Effecting a sense of control over pain –relabeling the sensation as tickling or numbness –Use of biofeedback Ch 8.15

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Copyright Copyright 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner.