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Library AP Psychology Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health
⁂   AP Psychology · Unit 5

5. Mental and Physical Health

15–25% of the AP exam. Key topics: Stress: stressors (life events, daily hassles, catastrophes), appraisal, physiological stress response, general adaptation syndrome (Selye), HPA axis, cortisol, psychoneuroimmunology, Coping: problem-focused vs. emotion-focused coping, resilience, social support, positive psychology (Seligman, Csikszentmihalyi — flow), Health behaviors: exercise, sleep, substance use, Psychological disorders classification: DSM-5-TR, medical model vs. biopsychosocial model, culture-bound syndromes, Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific and social phobias, OCD, PTSD; biological and cognitive-behavioral explanations, Depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder; neurotransmitter theories, Beck's cognitive triad, learned helplessness model, Bipolar disorders: bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia, Schizophrenia: positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech) and negative symptoms (flat affect, alogia, avolition); dopamine hypothesis; genetic and prenatal risk factors, Dissociative disorders: dissociative identity disorder (DID), dissociative amnesia, Personality disorders: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, Neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy: free association, dream analysis, transference, resistance, Humanistic therapy: client-centered therapy (Rogers), active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard, Behavioral therapies: exposure therapy, systematic desensitization, aversion therapy, token economies, Cognitive and CBT: Beck's cognitive therapy, Ellis's REBT, cognitive restructuring; evidence base for CBT, Biomedical treatments: antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), antipsychotics (typical and atypical), mood stabilizers (lithium); ECT; TMS; lobotomy (historical context), Community and preventative approaches: deinstitutionalization, community mental health centers, prevention frameworks.

20 instructional periods 15–25% exam weight standard track

Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

Study guide content for this unit is being prepared. Check back soon for complete lesson notes, formula sheets, and worked examples.

Topics in this unit

  • Stress: stressors (life events, daily hassles, catastrophes), appraisal, physiological stress response, general adaptation syndrome (Selye), HPA axis, cortisol, psychoneuroimmunology
  • Coping: problem-focused vs. emotion-focused coping, resilience, social support, positive psychology (Seligman, Csikszentmihalyi — flow)
  • Health behaviors: exercise, sleep, substance use
  • Psychological disorders classification: DSM-5-TR, medical model vs. biopsychosocial model, culture-bound syndromes
  • Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific and social phobias, OCD, PTSD; biological and cognitive-behavioral explanations
  • Depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder; neurotransmitter theories, Beck's cognitive triad, learned helplessness model
  • Bipolar disorders: bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia
  • Schizophrenia: positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech) and negative symptoms (flat affect, alogia, avolition); dopamine hypothesis; genetic and prenatal risk factors
  • Dissociative disorders: dissociative identity disorder (DID), dissociative amnesia
  • Personality disorders: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, autism spectrum disorder
  • Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa
  • Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy: free association, dream analysis, transference, resistance
  • Humanistic therapy: client-centered therapy (Rogers), active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard
  • Behavioral therapies: exposure therapy, systematic desensitization, aversion therapy, token economies
  • Cognitive and CBT: Beck's cognitive therapy, Ellis's REBT, cognitive restructuring; evidence base for CBT
  • Biomedical treatments: antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), antipsychotics (typical and atypical), mood stabilizers (lithium); ECT; TMS; lobotomy (historical context)
  • Community and preventative approaches: deinstitutionalization, community mental health centers, prevention frameworks