Comprehensive Guide to Stress, Clinical Psychology, and Treatment

Stress

Not just a stimulus, but a process by which we perceive and respond to events called stressors.

Stressor

Events that are perceived as threatening or challenging.

Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The body’s general physiological response to stress regardless of the specific stressor.

Alarm Reaction

The first phase of GAS where the body mobilizes for emergency action, activating the sympathetic nervous system.

Resistance

The second phase of GAS where the body remains physiologically ready to cope with stress but begins to deplete resources.

Exhaustion

The third phase of GAS where the body's reserves are depleted, leading to vulnerability to illness.

Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory

The theory that stress reflects how we view an event, not the event itself.

Primary Appraisal

Assessment of whether an event is a threat, challenge, or benign.

Secondary Appraisal

Evaluating whether one has the resources or coping mechanisms to deal with a threat.

Type A Personality

Characterized by competitiveness, impatience, and a high risk of coronary heart disease.

Type B Personality

More easygoing and relaxed compared to Type A.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine factors affect the immune system.

DSM-5-TR

Diagnostic manual for classifying psychological disorders and standardizing language.

Three D's in Psychology Disorders

Deviant, Distressful, Dysfunctional traits characterizing psychological disorders.

The Rosenhan Study

An experiment that highlighted the dangers of labeling in psychology by faking mental illness.

Biopsychosocial Approach

A holistic model that considers biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors in understanding health.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Pattern of pathological worry and autonomic arousal.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by sudden episodes of intense dread, often leading to a fear of future attacks.

Phobias

Persistent, irrational fears leading to avoidance of specific situations or objects.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Disorder resulting from traumatic experiences, marked by haunting memories and anxiety.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A prolonged state of hopelessness and lethargy lasting two weeks or more.

Bipolar Disorder

Characterized by alternating states of depression and mania.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by disconnection from reality and psychotic symptoms.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Added behaviors such as hallucinations and delusions.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Removed behaviors like flat affect and social withdrawal.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Physical symptoms without a medical cause, often involving significant emotional distress.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states in an individual.

Personality Disorders

Inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning, grouped into three clusters.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Weird/eccentric behaviors including Schizoid and Paranoid personalities.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic/wild behaviors including Antisocial, Narcissistic, and Borderline personality disorders.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Worried/fearful behaviors including Avoidant and Dependent personality disorders.

Psychoanalysis

Therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts, developed by Sigmund Freud.

Humanistic Therapy

Approach focusing on self-fulfillment and present/future concerns.

Behavioral Therapy

Changing unwanted behaviors through learning principles.

Cognitive Therapy

Changing negative thought patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A combined approach challenging and changing illogical thoughts.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to treat schizophrenia by blocking dopamine activity.

Antianxiety Medications

Drugs that depress CNS activity to treat anxiety disorders.

Antidepressants

Medications that increase serotonin levels to treat depression and anxiety.

Mood Stabilizers

Medications used to stabilize mood in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A treatment for severe depression that involves inducing seizures through electric currents.

Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment

In disorders, maladaptive behaviors are often perpetuated by negative reinforcement, not punishment.

Delusion vs. Hallucination

Delusions are false beliefs, while hallucinations are false sensory experiences.

Obsession vs. Compulsion

Obsessions are thought patterns; compulsions are behavioral actions.