Mental health

Anxiety Disorders & Responses to Stress Stress & Illness Stress and the endocrine system Stress affects the endocrine system (glands that release hormones into blood) releases ACTH, stimulates cortical steroids Chronic stress can damage bodily systems Stress and the immune system Chronic stress increases levels of interleukin-6, linked to inflammation Social support and expressing emotion through writing can help Acculturative Stress Acculturation The process of adaptation by which immigrants, native groups, and ethnic minority groups adjust to the new culture or majority culture through making behavioral and attitudinal changes Acculturative stress Pressure that results from demands placed on these groups to adjust to life in mainstream culture

Theoretical Perspectives Biological Perspectives Medical model Physiological model Pros and cons of this model Biological Perspective Biological factors play a role (not the only one) in development of psychopathology Neurotransmitters Hormones Genetic influences Brain development Psychosocial approaches Emphasize importance of early experience Recognize social influences and psychological processes Psychodynamic perspectives Structure of the mind Conscious, preconscious (telephone number), unconscious Structure of personality Id, ego, superego Defense mechanisms Stages of Psychosexual development Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital Cognitive-Behavioral Approach Cognitive influences Attributions Negative automatic thoughts Cognitive errors Behavioral influences

What is Abnormal? Or: Can we define psychopathology? Unusual Statistical deviance Problems? Social Deviance Cultural issues Cohort effect Politics Faulty perceptions of reality Delusions & hallucinations Illusion of control Significant personal distress Sometimes appropriate response Sometimes may distress others Maladaptive or self-defeating Criteria used to distinguish normal from abnormal Dangerousness Criteria for hospitalization Context specific Assignment Research Assignment Due: Monday, September 12, 2010 You must do this assignment on-line through Blackboard. Please post your articles (as attachments) on Blackboard, as well as your response to each task/question below. Assignment continued