PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUMMARY OF TERMS

STAGE 2 PSYCHOLOGY

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL

Biological Psychological Social

Focuses on the biological Focuses on psychological Focuses on the influence
(bodily) and chemical processes that are widespread that other people and
processes underlying amongst humans and also environments have on
behaviour. focuses on individual behaviour by studying
differences in behaviour. behaviour in social

contexts.

HISTORY OF MENTAL
ILLNESS
th
Middle of the 19 century saw push for more
humane asylums for mentally ill as psychology
advanced.

By the mid-1940s, electric shock therapy, insulin

shock therapy and lobotomies common to treat

mental illness.

DSM-V
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) - Manual professionals use to define and diagnose mental illnesses.

Major problem with DSM-V mental disorder definitions are that they are culturally constructed,
meaning they do not take into account cultural differences in behaviours and practices. Clinicians need
to understand the cultural background of their patients including attitudes and belief systems.
 MENTAL DISORDER
Characterised by behaviours, thoughts and
emotions that significantly impair work, study
or social functioning.

Diagnosis is from the DSM-V – Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric
Associations Manual 5th edition

Diagnosis can only be made by a qualified

health professional.

Maladaptive Personal
Behaviour Distress
Deviance from
Everyday behaviour is Frequent diagnosis
impaired or affected. Normal made on basis of
For example drugs and report of great
alcohol consumed to Clients social and cultural personal distress.
excess. context as well as
developmental stage

DEPRESSION
An extended experience of negative
emotions, thoughts, behaviours and
functioning for at least two weeks.

One of the most common mental

disorders.

Biological Psychological Social

 Insomnia  Difficulty concentrating  Isolation
 Reduced/increased  Irritability  Reduced
appetite  Poor memory communication
 Stomach upsets  Easier access to negative  Culture
 Sweating thoughts  Socio-economic status
 Reduced levels of  Negative perception of the  Lack of interest in
serotonin world Less flexibility others
 Substance abuse  Strongly emotional  Lack of support
 Thought to be hereditary  Personality types services
 Headaches/migraines  Introverts  Victim and/or
 Increased daytime fatigue  Worriers perpetrator of abuse
 Chronic pain
 Women are more likely to
be diagnosed than men

 ANXIETY
Many different types of anxiety disorders,
however all of them have the experience of
strong and/or frequent anxiety or fear.

Many different types:

 Phobias
 Panic disorder
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder
 Post-traumatic stress disorder
 Generalised anxiety disorder
 Social Phobia

Biological Psychological Social

 Flight or fight response  Interpretation bias  Avoidance of social
more active  Memory impairment situations
 Genetic markers  Irritability  Decreased in
 Increased heart rate,  Perception of doom communication with
blood pressure, sweating  Continuous anxious others
 Stomach upsets thoughts  May be triggered by life
 Trembling  Personality style events such as war,
 Headaches  Lack of stress management poverty or abuse.
 Nausea  Worriers  Environmental stressors
 Insomnia  Emotional  Lack of family support
 Chest pain  Decreased job security
 Tingling
 Women higher diagnosis

TREATMENT OF ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION

Biological Psychological Social

Anti-depressant medication Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) Social support networks
(depression)
Intrapersonal Therapy Group Therapy
Benzodiazepine medication (IPT)
(anxiety)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

 RISK FACTORS
The more risk factors that are
present in one’s life the
greater the chance of that
person developing a mental
illness.
PROTECTIVE
FACTORS
Protective factors are factors
present in one’s life that
reduces the likelihood of
developing a mental illness.

List of each is available on

the PPT handout I gave you.

COPING STATEGIES
Things that people can do to help yourself, before seeking help from
professionals.

 Exercise
 Nutrition
 Social Involvement
 Planning and problem solving
 Challenging negative thoughts
 Calming music
 Creating a safe space
 Meditation
 Journaling/worry list

RESILIENCE
When the presence of risk factors of
mental illness appear to lead to positive
outcomes.

Reduces the risk of developing a mental

illness.
 FACTORS
EFFECTING/BUILDING
RESILIENCE
Meaningful relationships Look for opportunities for self-
discovery
Accept that change is a part of
living Positive view of yourself

Avoid seeing crises as Keep things in perspective

insurmountable problems
Maintain hopeful
Move towards goals outlook/optimism

Take decisive actions Take care of yourself

(nutrition, sleep, exercise etc.)

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR
THERAPY
Cognitive therapy aims to help the client to become
aware of thought distortions which are causing
psychological distress, and of behavioural patterns
which are reinforcing it, and to correct them.

Advantages Disadvantages
Evidence of longer success Can sometimes be difficult to change
thought process of severe cases
Less chance of relapse
Confronting being diagnosed
Can use strategies of symptoms resurface
Can be expensive and lengthy

ELECTRIC SHOCK
THERAPY (ECT)
 Advantages Disadvantages
Modern day ECT very safe Intrusive procedure

Effective in treating severe cases Can cause memory loss

May not work for everyone

MEDICATIONS

Advantages Disadvantages
Allows people to function more effectively May have negative side effects

Successful if used in conjunction with other Can become addictive (benzodiazepines in

psychological therapies particular)

Readily available in Australia May take several trials to find right

medication/dosage

Can take a long time to work

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
Clinical interviews
Uses qualitative data to gain more information and make possible diagnosis.

Self-reports
Diaries, rating scales etc. Uses subjective quantitative and qualitative data.

Objective quantitative methods

EEG machines, heart rates, blood pressure, blood tests etc.

ETHICS

There is a duty of care and ethical code for professionals working with people who have a mental illness to protect their
rights and dignities.
 CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
A behavioural or physiological cycle that takes place over
a 24 hour period.

Examples include sleep, temperature, blood sugar, pain

tolerance etc.

ZEITGEBERS
Factors which affect the sleep/wake
circadian rhythm.

Examples include sunlight, meal times,

social interactions etc.

PROCESS OF
SLEEP/WAKE
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Sunlight hits Sunlight converted SCN sends Pineal gland

to electrical message to releases or
back of retinas
impulse which is
in eyes pineal gland stops melatonin
sent to the SCN
regarding the being released
amount of light

SCN MELATONIN
Suprachaismatic nucleus (small Natural sleep hormone
cluster of nerve cells). which tells the body
whether it should be awake
 STAGES OF SLEEP

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 REM

Relaxed K complexes and Delta waves – 20 – Deepest stage of ‘Dreaming’ sleep
wakefulness sleep spindles on 50% of brain wave sleep
EEG activity Rapid eye
Alpha brain waves Delta waves – more movement
No eye movement No eye movement than 50% of brain
Rolling eye waves EEG alpha and
movements Medium muscle Low muscle some beta waves
movement movement Little to no muscle
Hypnogic jerks movement Medium muscle
Lasts 20 minutes Lasts 15 minutes movement
Lasts 10 minutes Difficult to be
woken up Physiological
responses quicken
Last 15 minutes

SLOW WAVE SLEEP

(SWS) - restorative
sleep

SLEEP DEBT SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Accumulation of the difference between When a person does not get the required
the amount of sleep that a person needs to amount of sleep to function at the optimal
function at an optimal level and the level.

amount they actually have.

 Age Group Hours SWS REM Sleep-
of sleep sleep wake
sleep cycle
per 24
hours

Newborns 16 moderate majority 4 hours

Toddlers 13 increases declines Nap and

sleep

Adolescents 9-10 20% 25% 9-10

hours

SLEEP APNOEA
Adults 6-8
INSOMNIA
20% 20% 6-8
hours
NARCOLEPSY
Sleep disorder in whichElderly
a 6-8
Causes a Little to in Little to
reduction 2-3
Sleep disorder in which
person stops breathing quality and amount of none
none hours
people experience irresistible
periodically for a few sleep, making sufferers and unpredictable daytime
moments whilst they are unable to function at their
asleep. attacks of sleepiness, lasting 5
optimal level. – 30 minutes.

PARASOMNIAS
Include a range of sleep ‘phenomena's’
including sleep walking, sleep talking,
nightmares and night terrors.
 FATIGUE AND ITS AFFECTS

Workplace accidents Road toll

 STRESSOR
Something that can lead to feeling
stressed.

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

 ALARM
Release of adrenaline and/or
flight or fight response.
RESISTANCE
Parasympathetic nervous system
tries to conserve body’s energy.
Physiological responses remain
slightly elevated.
EXHAUSTION
Body can no longer sustain
heightened level of arousal.
Body’s ability to repair tissue
and fight off diseases is
reduced, therefore more

prone to illness.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Exercise Laughter Food

substances

Clean up Repair and Evolution Information

The brain uses
periods of sleep to restores basic body
flush waste and toxins
from the body.
restoration consolidation
All animals
Sleep repairs and (including humans) Sleep ensures the
have adapted over consolidation and
functions and time to sleep during sorting of important
periods of time
strengthen your information into short
when being awake
immune system. and long term memory.
is dangerous.

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
 Objective Quantitative Subjective Quantitative Qualitative

SLEEP SLEEP Focus groups, Delphi

technique, interviews and
 EEG machine to  Epworth sleepiness surveys can all be used to
measure brainwaves scale measure both sleep and
 Rating scales stress.
STRESS
STRESS
 Polygraph test used
to measure heart  Rating scales on
rates and other stress in certain
physiological situations
measures

ETHICS

Informed consent Voluntary Confidentiality Right to withdraw Debriefing

Participation

General wellbeing/fairness
Deception

Informed Voluntary Confidentiality Right to Debriefing Deception General