PSY240H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Sympathetic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Somatic Nervous System
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PSY240H1 Full Course Notes
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Chapter 9 reading: psychophysiological disorder & health psychology. Psychophysiological/psychosomatic disorders (asthma, hypertension, gastritis, headache) have genuine physical symptoms that are caused/worsened by emotional factors: real diseases involving damage to body. Dsm-iv diagnosis requires presence of psychological factors affecting medical condition. Dsm-5 psychiatric disorders are medical disorders, no need for distinction. Psychosomatic disorders have initiated field of behavioural medicine & health psychology. Close link between physical illness & mental disorders e. g. copd (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) & anxiety disorders: highest rate of mood disorder found amongst those with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, bowel disorders, stomach/intestinal ulcers. Stress defined by hans selye: defined general adaptation syndrome (gas, 1st stage alarm reaction, autonomic nervous system (ans) activated. If stress is too powerful, gastrointestinal ulcers form, adrenal glands enlarged, thymus atrophies: 2nd stage resistance, organism adapts to stress through coping mechanisms. Length of resistance depends on body"s adaptability and intensity of stressor: 3rd stage exhausation, organism dies or suffers irreversible daage.
