Physical Disorders

1
Physical Disorders and
Health Psychology
2
The Mind-Body Connection Sobering Facts

• Leading Causes of Death (1990)
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Diphtheria
• Tuberculosis
• Treatable Medical Conditions

3
The Mind-Body Connection Sobering Facts

• Leading Causes of Death (1993)
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Cancer
• Pulmonary Disease
• Accidents
• Disorders of Lifestyle / Behavior

4
Psychosocial Factors That Influence Biology

• Historical Developments

• Apply Behavioral Science to the Prevention,
  Diagnosis, and Treatment of Medical Problems
• Interdisciplinary

• Psychosomatic Medicine

• Behavioral Medicine

5
Psychosocial Factors That Influence Biology

• Study Psychological Factors Important for the
  Promotion and Maintenance of Heath
• Not Interdisciplinary

• Historical Developments

• Psychosomatic Medicine

• Behavioral Medicine

• Health Psychology

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Psychosocial Factors That Influence Biology

• Two Kinds of Influence

• Factors That

• Lead to Illness and Disease

• Increase Risk of Developing Disease

• Influence Etiology Maintenance

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Psychosocial Factors That Influence Biology
AIDS

• Factors Leading to Illness and Disease

• Influence Risk of Developing Disease

8
Psychosocial Factors That Influence
Biology

• The Nature and Role of Stress

STRESS

• Selyes Serendipitous Find

• Bodys Response to Sustained Stress

• Bodys Goes Through Stages

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Psychosocial Factors That Influence
Biology

• Stages of Stress

STRESS
ALARM
EXHAUSTION
RESISTANCE
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Psychosocial Factors That Influence
Biology

• Bodys Response to Stress

STRESS
HYPAC AXIS
CORTISOL
Hypothalamus
Adrenal
Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF)
Pituitary
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Psychosocial Factors That Influence
Biology

• What Influences the Stress Response?

STRESS

• A Sense of Control
• Coping Skills
• Self-Efficacy
• Health and Wellness Behaviors
• Social Support
• Immune System Functioning

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The Immune System and Physical Disorders

• Stress and the Immune System

• Lowers Immune System Functioning
• Increases the Risk of Infection
• Effects are Often Rapid

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The Immune System and Physical Disorders

• The Immune System An Overview

• Identifies and Kills Antigen Invaders
• Identifies and Kills Bodys Own Cells

• Two Main Divisions

• Humoral and Cellular

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The Immune System
First Line of Defense MACROPHAGES
HUMORAL BRANCH
CELLULAR BRANCH
Killer T Cells
Memory B Cells
B Cells
T Cells
Other T Cells
15
Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment and Outcome

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Psychosocial Factors and AIDS

• Scope of the AIDS Epidemic

• 30 to 40 Million New Cases by 2000
• Disease Runs a Variable Course
• 15 Survive 5 Years or Longer
• AIDS is Preventable, but not Curable
• Psychological Factors Can Slow Progression

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Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment and Outcome

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Psychosocial Factors and Cancer

• The Field of Psychoncology

• Stress Reduction Prolongs Life
• Psychological Factors Influence
• Course and Development
• Response to Aversive Medical Treatment
• Improve Quality of Life
• Slow Disease Progression
• Psychological Factors are Not Cures!

19
Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment and Outcome

20
Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Nature of Problems

• Heart, Blood Vessels, and Control Mechanisms
• Major Kinds of Disease
• Stroke (CVA)
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Strongly Influenced by Lifestyle Factors

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Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Essential Hypertension

• The Silent Killer
• No Verifiable Physical Cause (The Majority)
• High Blood Pressure ( 160 / 95)
• 20 Adults
• African Americans Caucasians
• Runs in Families
• Influenced by Psychological Lifestyle Factors

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Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease

• Number One Cause of Death in U.S.
• Blockage of Arteries to the Heart Muscle

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Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease

• Angina
• Atherosclerosis
• Ischemia
• Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
• Influenced by Psychological Lifestyle Factors

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Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease
• Psychological Factors

• Type A and B Behaviors
• Chronic Negative Emotions

• Toxic Psychological Ingredients?

• Anger and Hostility
• Chronic Negative Emotionality

25
Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment and Outcome

26
Psychosocial Factors and Chronic Pain

• The Nature of Chronic Pain

• 100 Billion Spent on Main Medication in U.S.
• Worldwide, 20 Million Tons of Aspirin

• Two Kinds of Clinical Pain

• Acute Pain
• Chronic Pain

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Psychosocial Factors and Chronic Pain

• Psychological and Social Dimensions

• Pain Severity Does not Predict Ones Reaction
• Differences Are Psychological

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Psychosocial Factors and Chronic Pain

• Biological Dimensions

• Gate Control Theory
• Endogenous Opiods (Endorphins)

• Phantom Limb Pain

29
Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment

30
Psychosocial Factors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• The Nature of Chronic Fatigue

• Unexplained Fatigue
• Variety of Physical Symptoms
• Most Common in Women
• Often Debilitating

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Physical Disorders Influenced by Psychosocial
Factors

• Psychosocial Link to Disease

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Treatment and Outcome

32
Psychosocial Treatment for Physical
Problems

• Available Treatments

• Biofeedback
• Relaxation Procedures
• Hypnosis
• Comprehensive Stress Management

• Obstacles to Treatment

• Denial and Noncompliance

• Prevention Efforts