Health Psychology Concepts

Most common treatment for schizophrenia

• Antipsychotic medications

• Antidepressant medications

• Mood stabilizers

• Benzodiazepines

Medical model of psychological disorders

• Disorders are solely a result of environmental factors.

• Disorders have physical causes that can be diagnosed and treated.

• Disorders are purely a social construct without any biological basis.

• Disorders can only be treated through therapy and counseling.

Key characteristic of Major Depressive Disorder

• Persistent sadness and loss of interest

• Excessive energy and enthusiasm

• Increased social interactions

• Heightened sense of self-esteem

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

• Selye’s three-phase response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion

• A two-phase response to stress: fight or flight

• A single-phase response to stress: relaxation

• A four-phase response to stress: alarm, adaptation, recovery, exhaustion

Standardized diagnostic criteria

• Provided by the DSM-5 for psychological disorders.

• Developed by the WHO for physical illnesses.

• Created by the APA for educational assessments.

• Established by the CDC for public health guidelines.

Class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety

• Benzodiazepines

• Antidepressants

• Beta-blockers

• Antipsychotics

Main goal of humanistic therapy

• Promote self-acceptance and personal growth

• Enhance cognitive restructuring

• Reduce anxiety through medication

• Increase behavioral compliance

Goal of positive psychology

• To study strengths and promote well-being

• To focus solely on mental illness

• To analyze negative emotions

• To enhance physical fitness

Characterized by persistent and excessive worry

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Sudden intense fear with chest pain and shortness of breath

• Panic Disorder

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• PTSD

• Social Anxiety Disorder