Running head: Physiological Psychology 1

Physiological Psychology-Stress

Elisha Sonson

Argosy University

Physiological Psychology 2

Stress is an unpleasant state of emotional and physiological arousal that people

experience during situations they perceive as dangerous or threatening to their well-being. The

word stress means different things to different people and it affects people in different ways.

Most people perceive stress as a negative experience because of the overabundance of tension in

their lives today (Melissa C. Stoppler, 2011). Stoppler states that from a biological standpoint,

stress can be neutral, negative or a positive experience (2011).

High levels of stress associated with traumatic events could result in altered

neurofunctioning. Exposure to such high level of stress could have a long-lasting effect, which

could eventually lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Posttraumatic

stress disorder is also associated with memory deficits and poorer health (Neil R. Carlson, 2010).

Based on the Sally scenario, Sally’s memory problems could be a result of the history of

traumatic events she experienced during her childhood such child abuse. In addition, to the abuse

she suffered as a child, her memory problems could also be a result of posttraumatic stress

disorder, which is known to cause memory deficit (Neil R. Carlson, 2010). Some individuals

may have to take antidepressant drugs to help alleviate the depression they inherit from the

stress.

According to Carlson, the major problem with antidepressant drug treatments is that the

drugs have failed to relieve depression in patients. At least 20-40 percent of patients with major

depressive disorder do not show significant response to antidepressant treatments. In Sally’s

case, since no single treatment works for all patients, she may be just another statistic to the

failure of antidepressant drugs (2010). Another reason Sally’s depression treatment may not

work could be that she was unknowingly a part of a study and given placebos instead of the

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antidepressant drugs. The ethical dilemma is that the medical benefit Sally gets from the inert

pills rests overall the condition of belief, expectation and hope.

Ethics is concerned with the suffering humans cause one another and the related capacity

of humans to recognize and address these sufferings through the empathetic virtues of sympathy,

compassion and caring (Jeanne, Sorrell, 2003). By listening to Sally and considering her request,

it would be easier to forge a connection with her diverse background and understand her personal

experience. One concern with providing education and referral services to Sally is forming

multiple professional relationships that would not otherwise cause impairment or risk

exploitation. Sensitivity to diversity becomes an ethical issue when professionals lack the

knowledge needed to establish an understanding of the client’s culture, socioeconomic, gender or

ethnic status, essential for providing effective service. The necessary sensitivity required to

provide psychological services to diverse clients like Sally, should be grounded in the ethical

thinking that takes into account multiple worldviews, identities and formal training (Jeanne,

Sorrell, 2003). Having such understanding would also help clients like Sally to participate and

make decisions in the own care.

Inform consent is one of the tools that allow a competent person to make decision and

participate in their medical care. It is the legal and ethical right of the individual to partake in the

decisions governing their health care. Individuals can make decisions when alternative to

proposed interventions are presented and accept or refuse the relevant risk associated with each

intervention. However, for patients who are incompetent to make their own medical decisions, a

legal surrogate is usually appointed to make those decisions on the individuals’ behalf. There are

also instances such as in emergent situation where health care professionals may have to act on

the principles of beneficence and make decisions for the individual. For example, in life

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threatening emergencies such as a person in cardiac arrest, health care professionals may have to

act on the patient’s behalf (Kelley A. Edwards, 2008).

Effective treatment in health care depends on an atmosphere of confidence and trust in

which a person is willing to make a complete disclosure of facts, emotions, memories and fears.

Health care administrators have an ethical and professional responsibility to keep a person’s

medical information confidential. All people’s receiving care has a right to confidentiality unless

they give permission for disclosure. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

(HIPPA), outlines federal laws protecting the release of clients medical information. There are

exceptions to this rule where an individual is a minor and all disclosure and consent required is

obtain from the parent or legal guardian. Information concerning a client can also be disclosed to

another party such as law enforcement or appropriate department is there is reason to believe that

the client or others are in immediate danger to health or life. With the advancement in modern

technology, providers must ensure that the tools they use to store clients confidential information

remains secure.

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References

Carlson, N. R. (2010) Physiology of Behavior 10th E.d. Anxiety disorders, autistic disorders,

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder & stress

Edwards, K. A. MA, (2008), Ethics in medicine: Informed Consent, Project Coordinator,

Bioethics Education Project at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine

Stoppler, M. C. MD (2011), MedicineNet.com: What is Stress & A Brief History of Stress?

Sorrell, J. (2003) Ethics column: “The Ethics of Diversity”: A Call for Intimate Listening in Thin

Places, Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol 8 (3)

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