1. Stress and Illness

2. What is stress? Things going on around you How you respond to those things going on around you How do you know when you are stressed?

3. The Effect of Stress on the Cardiovascular System

4. Short-term stress

5. Nervous system Central nervous system BrainSpinal cord Peripheral nervous system Somatic nervous system Afferent nerves Efferent nerves Autonomic nervous system Afferent nerves Efferent nerves Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

6. Sympathetic nervous system Adrenal gland Release of hormones Sapolsky (2004)

7. Sympathetic nervous system Releases epinephrine Rapid heart rate Blood to muscles Breathe faster Autonomic nervous system’s response SNS also releases norepinephrine

8. What is happening to the cardiovascular system? Blood pressure increases –Blood vessels become stiff and narrow Sapolsky (2004)

9. What is happening to the cardiovascular system? Blood enters heart –What is the impact of increased blood pressure? Blood enters heart with greater force Heart expands greater than normal, then snaps back with great force Sapolsky (2004)

10. Long-term stress

11. What is happening to the cardiovascular system? Long-term impact on blood pressure and blood vessels –Chronic blood pressure –Blood vessels respond to increased work by becoming even stiffer and more narrow Long-term impact on heart –Muscle on one side of heart becomes bigger Sapolsky (2004)

12. What is happening to the cardiovascular system? Damage to blood vessels, blockage of blood flow –Build up of cholesterol, platelets, and immune cells Health consequences: thrombus, heart attack, stroke Sapolsky (2004)

13. The Effect of Stress on the Immune System

14. Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Adrenal gland Sapolsky (2004)

15. Releases hormone (CRH) Releases hormone (ACTH) Releases stress hormone glucocorticoids Hypothalamus Short term: Enhances immune system Long term: Impairs Immune system Hormonal response Pituitary gland Adrenal gland

16. Short-term stress

17. What is happening to the immune system? With the help of glucocorticoids –More white blood cells are now circulating through the body –Immune cells are better at responding to signals from messenger cells Sapolsky (2004)

18. What is happening to the immune system? With the help of glucocorticoids –More antibodies are produced Antibodies are like guards that hold germs under arrest to await execution by other members of the immune system Sapolsky (2004)

19. Long-term stress

20. What is happening to the immune system? Fewer new white blood cells are forming Fewer white blood cells are released into circulation Existing white blood cells don’t stay in circulation as long as usual Sapolsky (2004)

21. What is happening to the immune system? White blood cells die a premature death Fewer antibodies are being made Sapolsky (2004)

22. Short and long-term impact In the short run, this simply returns the immune system to normal functioning In the long run, this suppresses the immune system below normal functioning Sapolsky (2004)

23. What is happening to the immune system? Autoimmune diseases can develop/get worse Sapolsky (2004)

24. A few final comments… IMPORTANT: Stress does not cause disease Stress can increase risk for disease, along with genetics, germs, lifestyle, psychological factors, etc. Sapolsky (2004)

25. Psychological Factors in the Stress Response Interpersonal relationships Personality Coping Figure 12.17 The cognitive appraisal process Klein/Thorne: Biological Psychology © 2007 by Worth Publishers

26. Stress Management

27. Stress Inoculation Training Phase 1: Education

28. Stress Inoculation Training Phase 2: Rehearsal

29. Stress Inoculation Training Phase 3: Application

30. Traumatic Stress and Health What doesn’t kill you actually makes you weaker (physically)

31. Hysteria The Wandering Womb

32. Normal Response to Danger/Threat Arousal adrenalin rush Attention and Perception heightened awareness Emotions fear and anger Action fight or flight Herman, 1992

33. Traumatic Experience Arousal adrenalin rush Attention and Perception heightened awareness Emotions fear and anger Action fight or flight Herman, 1992

34. Combat-related PTSD

35. Traumatic Experience Arousal adrenalin rush Attention and Perception heightened awareness Emotions fear and anger Action fight or flight

36. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Intrusive re-experiencing Intrusive images/thoughts Recurrent nightmares Flashbacks Avoidance Effortful avoidance Amnesia  Interest  Range of emotions Hyperarousal Sleep problems Concentration difficulties Hypervigilence Easily startled VideoPTSD military

37. Research Strategy History of trauma + current PTSD compared with History of trauma + lifetime PTSD History of trauma, never developed PTSD No history of trauma

38. Research Strategy Activity At rest Data Baseline Kaloupek & Bremner (1996)

39. Research Strategy Activity Stressful stimulus Data Reactivity Kaloupek & Bremner (1996)

40. Reactivity Phase: Stressful Stimulus Presented to participant Auditory Example: sounds of combat Visual Example: photos of combat scenes

41. Research Strategy Activity At rest Data Recovery Kaloupek & Bremner (1996)

42. Research Strategy Activity At rest Data Baseline Activity Stressful stimulus Data Reactivity Activity At rest Data Recovery Kaloupek & Bremner (1996)

43. Reactivity Combat Veterans Robust finding – Greater arousal:  Heart rate  Blood pressure Phase II Activity Stressful stimulus Data Reactivity

44. Present sound/pictures related to the war This reminds veteran of experiences during the war Activates emotions linked with those experiences Physical changes in the body (heart rate, blood pressure)

45. Recovery? Activity At rest Data Recovery Kaloupek & Bremner (1996)