Term
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Definition
characterized by the same symptoms as PTSD, but happens for less time
-stress/ anxiety disorder in which fear and related symptoms are experienced soon after a traumatic event but last less than a month |
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Term
| post traumatic stress disorder |
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Definition
| exposure to trauma--> leads to recurrent, intrusive memories -exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, hyperarousal -sleep disturbances (esp. insomnia) -poor concentration -dissociative symptoms- --depersonalization- feeling of disconnect from oneself --derealization-feeling of disconnect from reality, but not psychotic -avoidance of reminders |
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Term
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Definition
-eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
-type of exposure therapy
-treatment used for psychological stress disorders (usually PTSD in combat veterans)
-clients move their eyes in a saccadic, or rhythmic manner from side to side while flooding their minds with images of the objects and situations they normally try to avoid |
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Term
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Definition
critical incident stress debriefing
-attempts to prevent PTSD or acute stress disorder before onset
-• Victims talk excessively about thoughts, reactions, feelings, directly after traumatic event
• Primary victims- experience trauma first hand
• Secondary victims- people who experience the event, but it has not physically harmed them (e.g. safety workers)
-more effective in groups- people realize they are not alone
-can worsen symptoms if done individually in some cases |
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Term
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Definition
| -not due to a traumatic event- just stressful life situations- lots of work, big projects- wife prego- not loosing job or anything
-between effective coping strategies and stress disorders -people who react to major stressor in lives with extended and excessive feelings of anxiety, depressed mood, or antisocial behaviors -symptoms dont add up to acute stress disorder, PTSD, and they dont reflect anxiety, or mood disorder -cause considerable distress, interfere with work, social life, etc. -multiple forms of this- adjustment disorder with anxiety, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood -can be caused by any stressor (break up, marital problems, business difficulties, etc.)
-symptoms disappear somewhat soon after stressor or consequences of stressor have terminated
-not caused by loss of a loved one
-could be medical disorder- in which case adjustment disorder can last indefinitely |
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Term
| psychophysiological disorders |
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Definition
psychological factors, affecting medical condition
-o i.e. diagnosis of cancer- you become stressed, worried about the future, etc.- diagnosed physical illness (cancer) but there are psychological factors that come about because of it- this does not mean you have a psychological disorder |
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Term
| sympathetic nervous system |
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Definition
-fight or flight response- e.g.- shortness of breath, muscle tension, perspiration
-first pathway by which arousal and fear reactions are produced
-hypothalamus first excites this system when faced with a dangerous situation- this in turn stimulates organs of the body directly which release adrenaline and norepinephrine
-when fear passes- the parasympathetic nervous system helps return heart, and other excited body parts to normal |
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Term
| hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) pathway |
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Definition
-second pathway by which arousal and fear reactions are produced
-when confronted by stressors the hypothalamus also signals the pituitary glands which secretes ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)- also known as the body's "major stress hormone"- stimulate adrenal cortex, and this triggers the release of corticosteroids- which includes cortisol- these further generate arousal and fear reactions
-hippocampus helps turn this response off |
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Term
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Definition
-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - "major stress hormone"
-corticosteroids- a group of hormones including cortisol, released by the adrenal glands at times of stress |
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