Diathesis Stress Model
What is a diathesis?
A predisposition that is inherited such as your mom having schizophrenia
This defense mechanism helps to deal with emotional pain by not thinking about what happened, this becomes an automatic process in which the individual does not remember what happened.
Repression
-thought to help individuals deal with extreme emotional pain or trauma
What neurotransmitter is associated with anxiety?
Low GABA levels
GABA-
What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
Anxiety; is a future oriented mood state that is characterized by apprehension because we cannot predict or control upcoming events
Fear; immediate emotional reaction to current danger, with a rise in sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
Explain how the behavioral inhibition system is related to anxiety disorders?
the BIS is activated by signals from the brain stem of unexpected events such as major changes in body functioning, that could signal danger. When the BIS is activated by signals from the brain stem and the cortex we freeze, experience anxiety, and evaluate the situation to confirm if danger is present.
-this system used to be helpful when we had a more primitive society but now it gets activated when it should not be.
BIS receives a boost from the amygdala
What is an example of environmental stress in the diathesis stress model?
Childhood sexual abuse
What is Rationalization?
creating various explanations to justify the situation while denying feelings
What neurotransmitter is thought to be too active in the brain in schizophrenia?
Dopamine
what disorders are expected panic attacks associated with?
Specific phobias and social anxiety disorder
What brain circuit is though to be involved in panic?
Fight or flight system (FFS)
originates in the brain stem and travels through the midbrain thought to be activated by deficiencies in serotonin
In regards to the development of a psychological disorder what is necessary to produce sed disorder?
the stronger the diathesis(predisposition) the less stress (family conflict or trauma) is needed to producer the disorder.
What is displacement?
Redirecting your feelings to another target, such as a therapist
What two neurotransmitters are associated with depression?
Serotonin and Epinephrine
What specific brain circuits is anxiety associated with?
CRF-corticotrophin-releasing factor is thought to be central to the expression of anxiety and depression and the groups of genes that increase the likelihood that the system will be turned on
noradrenergic system,
serotonergic system
Give an example of how the environment aids in the development of anxiety disorders?
One study in the book suggested that cigarette smoking as a teenager is associated with greatly increased risk for developing anxiety disorders as an adult, particularly panic disorder and GAD. Teens who smoked 20 or more cigarettes daily were 5 times more likely to develop GAD than teens who smoked less or didn't smoke/.
how can an anxiety disorder be explained by the diathesis stress model?
The diathesis stress model can be explained by
What is regression ?
Reverting to old, immature behavior to help with the feelings
ex; sucking your thumb
What is the difference between and inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter?
Give an example of each
Inhibitory; regulates the transmission of information and action potentials
EX; GABA
Excitatory "turns on" many different neurons, leading to action
EX; glutamate
What brain areas is associated with anxiety?
The limbic system
Give an example of where the diathesis stress model might help maintain or influence the development of a psychological disorder?
According to the diathesis-stress model, Judy inherited a tendency to faint at the sight of blood. This biological tendency which is queasiness, dizziness, and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure may be seen as the diathesis. This tendency would not become prominent until certain environmental events occurred. For Judy, this event was the sight of an animal being dissected when she was in a situation in which escape, or at least closing her eyes, was unacceptable. The stress of seeing the dissection under these conditions activated her genetic tendency to faint. The diathesis-stress model therefore describes how the mixture of these two factors led to her developing this disorder.
What is reaction formation + example
Turning the feeling into the opposite
ex; a mom bears an unwanted child and so she may react to her feelings of guilt for not wanting the child by becoming extremely overprotective to convince her and the child she is a good mother
What are some consequences of low serotonin levels?
less inhibition instability, impulsivity, aggression, suicide, and excessive sexual behavior
Explain the relationship between the CRF and the HPA axis
The CRF activates the HPA axis, which is part of the CRF system and this CRF system is implicated in anxiety, including the emotional brain(limbic system) the hippocampus, and the amygdala, the locus coreuleus in the brain stem, prefrontal cortex, and the dopaminergic system.