Stress and Illness

Question 1

Define Stress

Answer 1

Demand exceeds capacity

Question 2

Capcity in this case means

Answer 2

A persons ability to cope

Question 3

Negative versus positive stress

Answer 3

Physiological response is the same

What distinguished the two is perception

Question 4

General Adaptve Syndrome

Answer 4

Non specific responses to stressor
3 stages
1. Alarm stage
2. Ressitnace Stage
3. Exhaustion Stage

Question 5

Alarm Stage

Answer 5

Flight FIght or Freeze

Autonomics control, you want this stage to be short - need to adapt

Question 6

Resistance Stage

Answer 6

Resources come online in response to continued stress - cortisol - short term is good, long is bad

Question 7

Exhaustion Stage

Answer 7

Resources breakdown, loss of homeostasis - if you can’t adapt will go into exhaustion

Question 8

Physiological Stress

Answer 8

Chemical or physical disturbance of cells/tissues

Question 9

Psychological Stress

Answer 9

Response to an emotional stressor
Reactive
Anticipatory

Question 10

Reactive Response

Answer 10

A physiological response associated with a given psychological stressor - an exam when dont know answer to a question

Question 11

Anticipated Response

Answer 11

Stress rxn based on an anticipated disruption of homeostasis - having bad experiences with delta

Question 12

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenocortical Axis (HAP)

Answer 12

Theoretical model of stress physiology
Hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone –> Stimulate pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone –> stimulates adrenal to release glucocorticoids like corisol

Question 13

Limbic HAP

Answer 13

In response to anticipatory stress limbic system initiates process by stimulating hypothalamas and sympathetics

Question 14

Limbic system and stress

Answer 14

Limbic is involved with memory and complex cog processing

Amygdala –> helps form complex emotional responses

Question 15

Reactions to stress will

Answer 15

vary from person to person

Question 16

Degree of response is influenced by

Answer 16

Perception/Interpretation
Gender 
Lifestyle
Genetics
Phyiscal Health
Age

Question 17

Influence of gender

Answer 17

Cortisol inhibits LH progesterone and testosterone

Stress inhibits female reproductive system

Question 18

Influence of Age

Answer 18

Prolonged exposure at early ages inhibits release of GH

Alterations in limbic system as age

Question 19

Allostasis and Allostatic Load

Answer 19

Ability to achieve stability through change

Accumulative effects are known as allostatic load

Question 20

Types of allostatic load

Answer 20

Frequent activation
Lack of adaptation
Failure to deactivate (deactiveat the stressor)

Question 21

Stress related illness examples

Answer 21

CAD
Headaches
Asthma
Autoimmune disorders
Irritable bowel syndrome
Impotence
Acne
Type II Diabetes
Amenorrhea
Depression
Insomnia

Question 22

Evaluation of stress

Answer 22

Neg events are more stressful than positive ones (release more cortisol)
Events that are unpredicatble or uncontrollable are more stressful
Ambiguity > clear cut = stress is less if clear cut then if ambiguous

Question 23

Measures of Stress

Answer 23

Self Reports
Behavioral measures - task performance under stress
Physiological measures - HR and BP
Biochemical measures - elevated catecholamines

Question 24

Measures of Coping

Answer 24

COPE

Ways of Coping Measure - Standard

Question 25

Interventions

Answer 25

Removal of stressor
Development of coping strategy
Changing health bx
Adjunctive treatment –> progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, biofeedback, physical exercise