1. Unit 3: Health Psychology

2. Learning objectives You will be able to:
Define – health psychology and the following terms: substance misuse, synapse, tolerance, physical dependence, psychological dependence, withdrawal (AC 1, a & b)
Identify the most commonly misused illegal drugs in terms of appearance, category and effects (AC 3c)

3. Key definitions ... Health psychology Substance misuse Synapse
Tolerance
Physical dependence
Psychological dependence
Withdrawal

4. Health Psychology ...
Focuses on the interaction of mind and body in relation to health behaviours; the biological, cognitive and social approaches are the focus of studies in this area
It looks at how a person's biology, emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and social interactions influence his or her physical well being and why people behave in an unhealthy manner (e.g. drug taking)
It also is concerned with the promotion of good health

5. 4 broad areas of health psychology
Health promotion
and maintenance:
‘anti-drug campaign’
Effects of drugs
In detail:
HEROIN
ALCOHOL
Role of
Biological, and
social factors in
substance misuse
Ways of
treating
substance misuse

6. Health Psychology…
Typical questions addressed by health psychology research are:
How do people adapt to chronic illness?
What factors influence healthy eating?
How is stress linked to heart disease?
Why do patients often not take their medication as prescribed?

7. The role of a Health Psychologist…
Use of psychological theory to understand people’s health behaviours
Health risk behaviours – use of interventions based on psychological theory
Health enhancing behaviours – use of psychological theory to encourage and promote these
Health care delivery – communication between HC professionals and patients
Psychological aspects of illness – impact on patients, families and carers; interventions based on psychological theory to promote self-management and facilitate coping strategies

8. So why health psychology...?

9. Biomedical model of health/illness
Mind-body dualism
Focus on proximal causes (e.g. viruses) - individuals as ‘victims’ of illness
Treatments which address the body’s physical state
Medical profession responsible for treatment
Illnesses may have psychological consequences, but not psychological causes
Reductionist?

10. The Biopsychosocial model of health and illness

11. The Biopsychosocial model of health and illness
Mind and body are connected
Illness is caused by a number of factors – responsibility of the individual (behavioural factors)
Treatment of the whole person – holistic approach
Psychological and social factors as contributory in illness

12. Key definitions ...
Substance misuse – the use of a drug/substance to the extent that an individual’s physical and mental health are affected and where the use interferes with an individual's social situation and responsibilities
Synapse – a small gap separating neurons; information from one neuron flows to another neuron across a synapse
Tolerance - when an individual no longer responds to the drug in the way they initially responded; it takes a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same level of response achieved initially

13. Key definitions ...
Physical dependence – where the body naturally adapts to chronic exposure to a substance, and when that substance is taken away, symptoms can emerge while the body readjusts to the loss
Psychological dependence – dependence on a psychoactive substance for the reinforcement it provides
Withdrawal - feelings of discomfort, distress, and intense craving for a substance that occur when use of the substance is stopped

14. The term 'drug' means any substance that is 'psychoactive', which means 'mind-altering'.
There are three types of drugs.
(eg. alcohol, tobacco, Solvants, painkillers) Usually bought over the counter, in shops, supermarkets, or from chemists.
Legal drugs
Illegal drugs
(eg. cannabis, Ecstasy, Cocaine) They are controlled drugs. They are often the type that lead to addiction or have dangerous side effects. Some times referred to as recreational drugs, as people take them for fun.
Medicinal drugs.
(eg. Steriods, tranquilizers, methadone)

15. ASSESS THE HARMS AND RISKS TO DRUG TAKING
Drug use/misuse
Drug use is drug taking through which harm may occur, although such harm may not be immediately noticeable. Treatment is through education, advice, prevention work.
Drug misuse is when drug taking harms health or a persons ability to function. Someone who misuses drugs may be dependent on the drug. To treat the person would require medical help.
Any use of drugs can cause harm or even death.
ASSESS THE HARMS AND RISKS TO DRUG TAKING

16. RECALL the role of the neuron
Make a mad neuron

17. RECALL ROLE OF NEUROTRANSMITTER
Impulse
Presynaptic neuron
Vesicle
Transmitters
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic
neuron
Receptors
Postsynaptic activity

18. Synapses
Main Idea(s) of This Slide -
This slide depicts the synapses between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another.
Here is a close-up view of the synapse between two adjacent neurons. The axon of the neuron at the top of the slide terminates in what is called an axon bulb. Inside the axon bulb are synaptic vesicles that contain neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters are responsible for exiting the axon bulb and entering into the synapse. Once inside the synapse (space between the neurons), the neurohormones bind to the adjacent neurons “postsynaptic membrane” and cause a new depolarization wave to begin.
This image on the right depicts the neurotransmitter (neurohormone) being released from the synaptic vesicle into the synapse where it can then bind to receptors on the adjacent neuron.
Neurotransmitter being released into synapse and attaching to receptors on dendrite
Based on Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide

19. 50 known neurotransmitters
DOPAMINE
NORADRENALIN
SEROTONIN
ENDORPHINS
ACHT
GABA

20. overdose due to cardiac arrest
Stimulants …
Stimulants increase the neural activity of the central nervous system to produce increases in breathing, heart-rate and blood pressure.
Risks might include:
overdose due to cardiac arrest
paranoia
irritability
anxiousness
depression
eating disorders
aggression
NAME 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRUGS

21. Depressants …
Depressant drugs suppress the neural activity of the Central Nervous System and in turn decrease breathing, heart-rate and blood pressure.
Risks might include:
overdose due to respiratory depression
long-term damage to the liver, heart, stomach and brain
loss of control and aggression
nausea, vomiting and choking

22. uncontrollable behaviour
Hallucinogens …
Hallucinogenic drugs act on the brain to alter the perception of what is real. They modify perceptions of thoughts, sounds and images that flood our brains on a daily basis
Risks might include:
involuntary actions
uncontrollable behaviour
flashbacks
nausea
stomach cramps
sickness

23. The stages of substance misuse
Beliefs
Seriousness
Costs and benefits
Expectancies
Clinical Interventions
Nicotine replacement
Aversion therapy
Self management
INITIATION
MAINTENANCE
STOPPING
RELAPSE
Self Help
Interventions
GP advice
Community initiatives
Policies and legislation
Social Factors
Parents’ behaviour
Parents beliefs and values
Peer group pressure
Prevention
Coping
Expectancies
attributions
Source: Bailey et al A2 psychology, pg 423