1. Physical Disorders and Health Psychology
Chapter 7
Physical Disorders and Health Psychology

2. Physical Disorders Can cause psychological symptoms
Different from conversion disorders
Actually disease causing the psychological problems
Psychological problems can make a physical disorder worse
Good coping can make them better

3. Behavioral Medicine Behavioral science applied to Health Psychology
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Health Psychology
Subfield of behavioral medicine
Psychological factors that are important to the promotion and maintenance of health

4. Behaviors Behaviors lead to or prevent disease
Behaviors impact management of disease- from diagnosis (undergrad thesis- stigma in std testing), adherence to meds, further behaviors leading to worsening or improving health
Impact of psychology
Psychology impacts behaviors
Behaviors impact psychology

5. Prevention and Risk Risky behaviors can lead to disease
Stigma
Guilt
Shame
Behaviors can make things better or worse
Diabetes- diet/exercise can work for or against you
CF- doing treatments better outcomes, don’t do them-very sick

6. Lifestyle
In general- diet, physical activity etc lead to long term consequences
Being tired
Stress- alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Stress hormones (cortisol)- cell death, immune system
Predictability and controllability
Diathesis stress model- can trigger psychological problems
More likely to become ill, be chronically ill

7. Similarities Stress Anxiety Depression Excitement Sense of control
Can you cope with upcoming threat or challenge

8. Physiology Heart beat rapid Burst of energy Jumpy stomach
Excitement is pleasurable
Attribution
Challenge or task- certain circumstances would be fine, others e.g., lack of resources
Tension, irritability, headache, upset stomach

9. Stress versus anxiety versus depression
What is the difference-
Sense of control
Anxiety you have no control
stress you do-takes a lot of effort to be in control
Depression- no longer trying to cope
Self-efficacy
Our sense of control and confidence that we can cope with stress or challenges
Phenomenon in high school- OMG I’m so stressed/nervous… wait a second..

10. Stress and the Immune System
Chance of getting the cold directly related to amount of stress
Intensity of stress and negative affect linked to severity of cold
Social- less likely, socializing with friends relieves stress
Depression lowers immune system functioning
Sense of uncontrollability
Poor self care
Risky behaviors
Sense of control may be one of the most important psychological contributions to good health