1. Psychological Health
Chapter Three

2. Defining Psychological Health
Psychological Health (Mental Health) is defined positively by the presence of wellness, or negatively as the absence of mental sickness

3. Defining Psychological (Mental) Health
Psychological Health is not:
being normal
conforming to social norms
not having the need to seek help for personal problems
your personal appearance

4. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who believed that people are motivated to achieve certain needs; some needs are more important than others.
When one need is filled, people seek to fulfill the next need
To understand human motivation, Maslow studied individuals that he believed to be successful.

5. Maslow Developed a Hierarchy of Needs

6. Self-Actualization (A Closer Look)
Maslow concluded that visibly successful people achieved self-actualization, & that they share the following qualities:
Realism
Acceptance
Self-image
Self-esteem
Autonomy
Authenticity
Intimacy
Creativity

7. Psychological Disorders

8. Nerve Cell Communication
Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine alter the overall responsiveness of the brain and are responsible for mood, level of attentiveness and other psychological states
Many psychological disorders are related to problems with neurotransmitters and their receptors and drug treatments frequently target them.

9. The Nervous System and Psychiatric Disorders
A dysfunctional interaction between neurotransmitters and their receptors is thought to affect some psychiatric disorders.
Serotonin and norepinephrine alter the overall responsiveness of the brain and are responsible for mood, level of attentiveness and other psychological states.
Antidepressants work by targeting key neurotransmitters in the brain

10. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety Disorders Simple/specific phobia
Fear of something definite
Social phobia
Fear of humiliation or embarrassment while being observed by others
Anxiety is another word for fear, esp. a feeling of fear that is not in response to any definite threat

11. Anxiety Disorders Panic disorders Sudden unexpected surges in anxiety
Rapid and strong heart beat
Shortness of breath
Loss of physical equilibrium
Feeling of losing mental control
Can lead to agoraphobia
Anxiety is another word for fear, esp. a feeling of fear that is not in response to any definite threat

12. Anxiety Disorders Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Excessive worry about future events
Worries take over rational thought
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessions = recurrent, unwanted thoughts
Compulsions = repetitive, difficult- to-resist actions
Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD)
Reaction to a severely traumatic event

13. Mood Disorders Depression Most common mood disorder
Affects young and older adults
Takes the form of:
Feeling sad and hopeless
Loss of pleasure
Poor appetite, weight loss
Insomnia
Restlessness
Thoughts of worthlessness
Trouble concentrating
Thoughts of death or suicide

14. Warning Signs of Suicide
Talk: expressing the ‘wish’ to be dead, saying they are a burden, or trapped
Behavior: Acting recklessly, social withdrawal/isolation, increased use of alcohol/drugs
Mood: Depression, rage, irritability, anxiety

15. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
Facts About Suicide
Strongest risk factor for suicide is depression
In the US, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24
Males take their own lives nearly 4X the rate of women
Firearms are the most common method of suicide by men. Poisoning is most common for women.
The rate of suicide is highest is middle aged white men.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

16. Treating Depression Depends on severity and persons risk of suicide
Antidepressants
Prescribed for Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, etc.
Prozac, paxil
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Last resort for severe depression
Mild seizure is produced
3-4 treatments/wk. for ~ 4 wks.
The most common antidepressant’s include:
Prozac, paxil
Prescribed for anxiety, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, etc.
They work by increasing the level of serotonin available for the postsynaptic cell (neuron)
in the modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, human sexuality, appetite, and metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting
ECT apparently works similar to antidepressants

17. Mood Disorders Mania and Bipolar Disorder
Restlessness
Having abundant energy
Requiring little sleep
Talking nonstop
Many manics swing between mania and depressive states = bipolar disorder
Gender differences exist when considering psychological disorders, but why?
Reporting bias
Difference in hormones
Women emphasize the relationships in their lives and may use them to determine their own self-esteem and when one/more deteriorates this can lead to greater rates of depression, etc.
Gender roles place women in less autonomous situations

18. Psychological Disorders
Schizophrenia
General characteristics
Disorganized thoughts
Inappropriate emotions
Delusions
Auditory hallucinations
Deteriorating social and work function
Uncertain causes
A mood disorder is the term given for a group of diagnoses in the DSM IV TR classification system where a disturbance in the person's emotional mood is hypothesised to be the main underlying feature

19. Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change
Several Perspectives can be applied to psychological disorders each with a distinct view of human nature

20. Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change
Biological
Emphasis is on the influence of the brain
Therapy = Pharmacological
Behavioral
Emphasis on behavior/actions of people
Behaviorists analyze behavior in terms of stimulus, response and reinforcement
Therapy = exposure

21. Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change
3. Cognitive
Emphasis is on the effect of ideas on behaviors and feelings
This model states that behavior results from attitudes and expectations rather than reinforcements
Therapy tries to expose and identify false ideas that produce anxiety and depression

22. Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change
4. Psychodynamic
Emphasizes thoughts
Thoughts are fed by unconscious ideas and impulses
In psychodynamic therapy patients speak freely, trying to find basis of their feelings