1. Stress and Psychiatric Disorders
Lesson 7

2. Starter
In a study of stress, the stress and blood pressure of participants were measured. Data from the study were plotted on the graph below.
Outline what the graph seems to show about stress and blood pressure, and explain difficulties in drawing conclusions from this data. [4 marks]
Outline one piece of research which shows a link between stress and cardiovascular disorders. [2 marks]

3. Mark Scheme
Williams et al (2000) found that individuals with anger problems were more likely to have a heart attack. or
Sheps et al (2002) found a link between stress and existing coronary artery disease.

4. Learning Objectives
1) To understand the link between stress and psychiatric disorders.
Success Criteria
Read through page 9 of your booklet and make some evaluation notes.
Watch a video about stress and PTSD.
Create an essay plan for stress-related illness.

5. Stress and Psychiatric Disorders
Depression
Brown and Harris (1978) found that women suffering from chronic stress were more likely to develop depression. Working-class women are more prone to depression than middle-class women due to having to leave their children in the care of others when returning to work.

6. Stress and Psychiatric Disorders
Other disorders
Rohlf and Bennett (2005) found that one in ten workers whose job required then to euthanise animals experienced moderate levels of PITS symptoms (a form of post traumatic stress disorder experienced when you cause trauma).

7. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
We will now watch a 10 minute video about PTSD experienced in the 9/11 firefighters

8. Stress and Psychiatric Disorders
Diathesis-stress model
A ‘diathesis’ is a biological vulnerability to a disorder. This vulnerability is determined by genetic factors of early biological experiences (in the womb). Stress can have an impact on that vulnerability and can trigger or worsen the course of other disorders. If a person is not able to cope with the stressful situation, psychiatric symptoms can develop.

9. Evaluation of Stress and Psychiatric Disorders
Make some notes on page 9 about the evaluation of stress and psychiatric disorders.
It is difficult to establish a causal link because:
It is not possible to see if stress is the cause or consequence of the disorder.
Most studies are retrospective so aren’t reliable. Prospective studies are rare.
Although some have found a relationship between stress and depression, other researchers have found a minimal relationship.

10. Essay Plan Plan an answer to the following question:
“To what extent does research support a link between stress and illness?” [12]
See page 122 (red notes) – students need to know immune system in detail, cardiovascular and psychiatric is less important