This document contains revision materials for a unit on mental health. It begins with a definition of mental health and then lists several key concepts covered in the unit, including normality, classifying mental disorders, labelling and stigma, and the biopsychosocial approach. It also lists physiological and psychological responses to stress, allostasis, coping with stress, and anxiety. The remainder of the document consists of sample questions and answers related to these concepts.

1. Unit 4 Revision
Area of Study 2
Mental Health
Thursday, 10 October 2013

2. Thursday, 10 October 2013

3. Mental Health is the capacity of an
individual to interact with others and
the environment in ways that promote
subjective wellbeing, optimal
development throughout the lifespan
and effective use of the person’s
cognitive, emotional and social abilities
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4. Key Concepts
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5. Key Concepts
Normality
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6. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Thursday, 10 October 2013

7. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Thursday, 10 October 2013

8. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Biopsychosocial Approach
Thursday, 10 October 2013

9. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Biopsychosocial Approach
Physiological & Psychological Responses to Stress
Thursday, 10 October 2013

10. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Biopsychosocial Approach
Physiological & Psychological Responses to Stress
Allostasis
Thursday, 10 October 2013

11. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Biopsychosocial Approach
Physiological & Psychological Responses to Stress
Allostasis
Coping with Stress
Thursday, 10 October 2013

12. Key Concepts
Normality
Classifying Mental Disorders (DSM/ICD)
Labelling & Stigma
Biopsychosocial Approach
Physiological & Psychological Responses to Stress
Allostasis
Coping with Stress
Anxiety
Thursday, 10 October 2013

13. Question 1
The biopsychsocial framework is an approach that
A. describes the framework to treat stress and other mental
health illnesses
B. describes and explains how the biological, psychological and
social factors combine and interact to influence a person’s
mental health
C. describes the difference between mental health and mental
illness
D. describes the different axis in the DSM-IV-TR.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

14. Suggested Solution
The biopsychsocial framework is an approach that
A. describes the framework to treat stress and other mental
health illnesses
B. describes and explains how the biological, psychological and
social factors combine and interact to influence a person’s
mental health
C. describes the difference between mental health and mental
illness
D. describes the different axis in the DSM-IV-TR.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

15. Question 2
The DSM-IV-TR and the ICD-10 are manuals used to assist
therapists in
A. diagnosing and classifying a mental illness/disorder
B. creating treatments for patients with poor physical health
C. rating the severity of a mental health problem in a patient
D. updating their knowledge in mental health.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

16. Suggested Solution
The DSM-IV-TR and the ICD-10 are manuals used to assist
therapists in
A. diagnosing and classifying a mental illness/disorder
B. creating treatments for patients with poor physical health
C. rating the severity of a mental health problem in a patient
D. updating their knowledge in mental health.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

17. Question 3
Vicki has had an amazing day. This morning she rang a radio
station and recited the last five songs they
played. As a result she won $1000.
It is likely that Vicki may be experiencing
A. fight-flight response
B. distress
C. homeostasis
D. eustress.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

18. Suggested Solution
Vicki has had an amazing day. This morning she rang a radio
station and recited the last five songs they
played. As a result she won $1000.
It is likely that Vicki may be experiencing
A. fight-flight response
B. distress
C. homeostasis
D. eustress.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

19. Question 4
Steve has an intense fear of moths. He has decided to seek help
and visits a psychologist. The psychologist has taught him some
relaxation techniques. Once he has learned the relaxation
techniques the psychologist will begin to gradually expose Steve
to the feared object.
This is an example of
A. systematic desensitisation
B. aversion therapy
C. flooding
D. stimulus discrimination.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

20. Suggested Solution
Steve has an intense fear of moths. He has decided to seek help
and visits a psychologist. The psychologist has taught him some
relaxation techniques. Once he has learned the relaxation
techniques the psychologist will begin to gradually expose Steve
to the feared object.
This is an example of
A. systematic desensitisation
B. aversion therapy
C. flooding
D. stimulus discrimination.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

21. Question 5
Complete the table below describing the five axis on the
DSM - IV -TR
3 marks
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22. Suggested Solution
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23. Question 6
Biofeedback is one strategy for coping with stress.
What is biofeedback?
3 marks
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24. Suggested Solution
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25. Question 7
Distinguish between allostasis and homeostasis in
maintaining the stability of bodily systems in
response to a stressor.
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26. Suggested Solution
Explanation should refer to:
allostasis as the maintenance of stability through change
homeostasis as the maintenance of stability through
constancy
a key distinguishing feature, e.g. allostasis integrates
biological, social and psychological factors in explaining our
response to stress, whereas homeostasis refers only to certain
physiological adjustments; allostasis always involves the
brain/cognitive processes, whereas homeostasis does not;
allostasis allows for wider ranging changes beyond pre-
determined set points/limits, whereas homeostasis does not.
Award 1 mark for explaining allostasis, 1 mark for
explaining homeostasis and 1 mark for a relevant point of
distinction.
Thursday, 10 October 2013

27. Question 8
Which of the following is a direct effect of the release of
hormones during prolonged arousal?
A. decreased blood pressure
B. limited supply of energy to the muscles
C. decreased respiration
D. less efficient functioning of the immune system
Thursday, 10 October 2013

28. Suggested Solution
Which of the following is a direct effect of the release of
hormones during prolonged arousal?
A. decreased blood pressure
B. limited supply of energy to the muscles
C. decreased respiration
D. less efficient functioning of the immune system
Thursday, 10 October 2013

29. Question 9
Briefly explain what the HPA axis is in
relation to stress and what the HPA axis
involves.
2 mark
Thursday, 10 October 2013

30. Suggested Solution
Explanation should refer to the HPA axis as a
physiological stress response — a chain of
reactions in response to a stressor that
regulates the body's response to the stressor.
(1 mark)
It involves the hypothalamus, pituitary gland
and adrenal glands. (1 mark)
Thursday, 10 October 2013

31. Question 10
Describe one limitation of the transactional
model of stress and coping.
1 mark
Thursday, 10 October 2013

32. Suggested Solution
Limitations may reflect to difficulty in testing
the model through empirical research because of
the subjective nature of the stress response;
stress response is possible without appraisal and;
the overlapping nature of primary and
secondary appraisals.
Award 1 mark for a relevant limitation.
Thursday, 10 October 2013