BP103T • Unit 4Healthcare Psychology and Communication SkillsPCI 2026 Curriculum

BP103T Unit 4 – Interprofessional Communication & Conflict Resolution

Unit 4 covers the psychophysiology of stress, Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), Lazarus and Folkman's transactional coping theory, professional burnout in healthcare, and counseling strategies to overcome social stigma in psychiatric pharmacotherapy.

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📖 Detailed Notes📋 Syllabus Topics❓ BP103T MCQs📝 Question Bank🧪 Viva Voce

📋 Prescribed Syllabus Topics

1Interprofessional Communication in Hospital and Community Pharmacy
2The SBAR Communication Framework (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
3Assertive vs Passive vs Aggressive Communication in Healthcare Teams
4De-escalation Techniques for Angry, Grieving, or Distressed Patients
5Conflict Resolution Strategies Among Multidisciplinary Healthcare Providers
6Telepharmacy and Digital Communication Ethics

📖 Detailed Lecture Notes & Solved Examples

11. Psychophysiology of Stress & Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

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Stress is the non-specific physiological and psychological response of the body to any demand or noxious stressor. Endocrinologist Hans Selye formulated the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, detailing how chronic exposure to physiological or psychological stressors activates the Sympathetic-Adrenomedullary (SAM) axis (releasing Epinephrine and Norepinephrine) and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis (releasing Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, ACTH, and Cortisol). The GAS model comprises three distinct physiological stages: (1) Alarm Reaction, (2) Stage of Resistance, and (3) Stage of Exhaustion.Hans Selye ke mutabiq stress ke 3 stages hote hain: (1) Alarm Stage: Adrenaline nikalta hai aur heart rate badhti hai (Fight-or-Flight); (2) Resistance Stage: Cortisol nikalta hai aur shareer stress se ladne ke liye balance banata hai; (3) Exhaustion Stage: Lagatar stress se shareer thak jata hai aur BP, ulcer ya depression jaisi bimariyan gher leti hain.

💡 Real-World Pharmaceutical & Medical Examples:

▶The Three Stages of Hans Selye's GAS Model

Physiological shifts during acute vs prolonged chronic stress.

1. Stage 1: Alarm Reaction:
Immediate 'Fight-or-Flight' response activated by sympathetic nervous system.
Physiological Changes: Surge in Epinephrine and Norepinephrine; tachycardia, bronchodilation, glycogenolysis, pupil dilation, redirected blood flow to skeletal muscles.
2. Stage 2: Stage of Resistance (Adaptation):
The body attempts to adapt and maintain homeostatic equilibrium against persistent stressor.
Physiological Changes: HPA axis sustains elevated systemic Cortisol levels; blood glucose remains elevated; immune and reproductive functions are suppressed.
3. Stage 3: Stage of Exhaustion:
Prolonged, unmitigated stress depletes adaptive physiological reserves.
Clinical Consequences: Severe immunosuppression, clinical hypertension, peptic ulceration, chronic fatigue, depressive illness, cardiovascular disease.
Key Takeaways:
  • •Eustress: Positive, adaptive, motivating stress that enhances performance (e.g. studying for examinations).
  • •Distress: Negative, debilitating, unmanageable stress that impairs physiological function and mental health.
  • •Allostatic Load: The cumulative physiological wear and tear on tissues and organs resulting from chronic stress exposure.
  • •HPA Axis: Hypothalamus $\rightarrow$ CRH $\rightarrow$ Anterior Pituitary $\rightarrow$ ACTH $\rightarrow$ Adrenal Cortex $\rightarrow$ Cortisol.

22. Coping Strategies & Professional Burnout in Pharmacy Practice

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Coping consists of conscious cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage, tolerate, or reduce internal and external demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding personal resources (Lazarus & Folkman). Coping mechanisms are divided into Problem-Focused Coping (directly changing or eliminating the source of stress) and Emotion-Focused Coping (regulating emotional distress associated with the stressor). Professional Burnout is a psychological syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism), and reduced personal accomplishment resulting from chronic occupational stress in healthcare environments.Coping do tarah ki hoti hai: Problem-Focused (jab problem ko theek kiya ja sake jaise padhai ka time table banana) aur Emotion-Focused (jab problem bas me na ho aur meditation ya counseling se man ko shaant kiya jaye). Over-work se jab pharmacist mansik aur sharirik roop se thak jata hai, toh use Burnout kehte hain.

💡 Real-World Pharmaceutical & Medical Examples:

▶Problem-Focused vs Emotion-Focused Coping in Pharmacy

Contrasting adaptive coping mechanisms.

Problem-Focused Strategies (Modifying the stressor):
Implementing automated digital barcode scanning in dispensary to eliminate dispensing errors.
Structuring dedicated study timetables and joining peer review groups before semester exams.
Delegating administrative inventory paperwork to certified pharmacy technicians.
Emotion-Focused Strategies (Regulating emotional distress):
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises.
Seeking psychological peer support or professional counseling.
Cognitive reframing: Viewing challenging patient encounters as opportunities for professional growth.
Key Takeaways:
  • •Problem-Focused Coping: Most effective when the stressor is controllable and modifiable.
  • •Emotion-Focused Coping: Most adaptive when dealing with uncontrollable stressors (e.g., severe patient prognosis).
  • •Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): Gold-standard clinical tool measuring (1) Emotional Exhaustion, (2) Depersonalization, and (3) Personal Accomplishment.
  • •Maladaptive Coping: Substance abuse, denial, avoidance, and interpersonal aggression.

33. Mental Health Medication Stigma & Psychiatric Patient Counseling

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Patients prescribed psychiatric medications (Antidepressants - SSRIs, Antipsychotics, Mood Stabilizers, Anxiolytics) frequently encounter severe social stigma, fear of personality alteration, and fear of chemical dependence. Pharmacists play an indispensable clinical role in demystifying psychiatric pharmacotherapy, educating patients on delayed therapeutic onset (e.g. 2 to 4 weeks for SSRIs), and preventing premature self-discontinuation.Mental health ki dawaiyon (jaise Fluoxetine, SSRIs) ke baare me logo ko lagta hai ki iski aadat/lat lag jayegi. Pharmacist ko samjhana chahiye ki ye dawaiyan non-addictive hain, inka asar aane me 2-4 hafte ka samay lagta hai, aur inhe achanak band nahi karna chahiye.

💡 Real-World Pharmaceutical & Medical Examples:

▶Clinical Counseling Protocol for a Patient Starting Fluoxetine (SSRI)

Addressing common psychiatric medication concerns.

1. Timeline of Onset:
"Antidepressants do not produce immediate mood elevation like a painkiller. You may feel mild nausea or headache in the first week, but improvements in mood, sleep, and energy typically take 2 to 4 weeks of continuous daily use."
2. Addiction Myths:
"SSRIs are non-habit forming and non-addictive. However, you must not stop taking them abruptly because sudden cessation can cause uncomfortable discontinuation symptoms (dizziness, electric shock sensations)."
3. Side Effect Management:
"Take the capsule with breakfast to minimize morning stomach upset. If you feel slight drowsiness, do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you."
Key Takeaways:
  • •Public Stigma: Prejudicial societal attitudes and discrimination against individuals with psychiatric diagnoses.
  • •Self-Stigma (Internalized Stigma): Internalizing societal prejudices, resulting in shame and avoidance of medical care.
  • •Therapeutic Latency of SSRIs: 2 to 4 weeks required for downstream neurotrophic adaptations (BDNF expression) despite immediate serotonin reuptake inhibition.
💡High-Yield Exam Preparation Tips
  • Draw and explain the 3 stages of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion) for a 10-mark question.
  • Contrast Problem-Focused Coping vs Emotion-Focused Coping with 2 healthcare examples each.

Other Units in BP103T

Unit 1

Fundamentals of Communication in Healthcare

Unit 2

Healthcare Psychology & Patient Behavior

Unit 3

Patient Counseling & Medication Therapy Management

Unit 5

Professional Ethics, Emotional Intelligence & Mental Wellbeing

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