Mental and physical health are interconnected aspects of overall well-being. This unit explores the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence health, as well as common mental health disorders and their treatments. The biopsychosocial model emphasizes the interplay between genetics, brain function, personality traits, and social support in shaping health outcomes. Stress, coping mechanisms, and lifestyle choices play crucial roles in maintaining both mental and physical wellness.
What topics are covered in AP Psych Unit 5 (Mental and Physical Health)?
Unit 5 covers Mental and Physical Health (topics 5.1–5.5). You’ll get an intro to health psychology and stress—think GAS, coping, and tend-and-befriend. There’s a chunk on positive psychology: well-being, gratitude, strengths, and posttraumatic growth. The unit also explains how disorders are defined: perspectives, DSM/ICD, and models like biopsychosocial and diathesis-stress. You study a representative set of disorders (neurodevelopmental; schizophrenia spectrum; depressive and bipolar; anxiety and OCD-related; dissociative; trauma/stressor-related; feeding/eating; personality). Finally, it covers treatment: psychotherapies, ethics, group vs. individual therapy, hypnosis, medications, and biological interventions such as ECT and TMS. Fiveable’s Unit 5 study guide, cheatsheets, and cram videos can help (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5).
How much of the AP Psych exam is Unit 5?
You’ll see Unit 5 weighted at about 18%–28% of the AP Psychology exam, based on the AP Course and Exam Description. That means roughly a fifth to a little over a quarter of scored content (multiple-choice and FRQs) focuses on health psychology, positive psychology, disorders, and treatments. Coverage can shift slightly between administrations, so prioritize mastering topics 5.1–5.5 and the related science practices. For a concise review and unit-specific practice, check Fiveable’s Unit 5 guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5). For mixed practice and timed drills, use Fiveable’s practice bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/psych-revised).
What's the hardest part of AP Psych Unit 5?
A lot of students find explaining and classifying psychological disorders (topics 5.3–5.4) the toughest part. Many disorders share overlapping symptoms, have nuanced diagnostic criteria, and show comorbidity. It’s easy to mix up major depressive vs. persistent depressive disorder or panic disorder vs. specific phobia. Treatment nuances (topic 5.5) are tricky too—distinguishing therapy types, medication classes, and evidence-based interventions takes careful study. Focus on defining symptoms, typical age of onset, and hallmark differences between categories. Practice applying definitions with multiple-choice items and case vignettes. For targeted review, try Fiveable’s Unit 5 study guide, cheatsheets, cram videos, and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5) and the practice bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/psych-revised).
How should I study for AP Psych Unit 5 — best study guide/notes and Quizlet strategies?
Kick off with Fiveable’s Unit 5 study guide for a focused review of Mental and Physical Health (5.1–5.5) (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5). Use active retrieval: write short-answer prompts (define health psychology, list anxiety disorders, compare CBT vs. biomedical treatments) and self-test with spaced intervals. For Quizlet, create your own sets or pick curated ones. Use Learn and Write modes and mix straight term–definition cards with application prompts—give a case and name the disorder or treatment. Pair flashcard sessions with concept maps that link causes, symptoms, and treatments so facts sit in context. For extra practice and quick refreshers, use Fiveable’s practice questions and cram videos (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/psych-revised).
Where can I find AP Psych Unit 5 practice tests and review materials?
You can find Unit 5 practice tests and review materials on Fiveable’s Unit 5 page, which matches the CED topics and exam weight and includes a focused study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5). That unit page also links to cheatsheets and cram videos for quick refreshers on disorders, treatments, and health-psych concepts. For more mixed practice and timed drills, use Fiveable’s practice bank—1000+ practice questions with explanations—at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/psych-revised). Those resources are great for targeted review before quizzes or the AP exam.
Are Unit 5 mental and physical health topics changed for AP Psych 2025?
Unit 5 is still called “Mental and Physical Health” (topics 5.1–5.5) and is described in the current CED. You can find the unit content at (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-5). It still covers stress and coping, positive psychology, how disorders are defined and classified, representative disorders (neurodevelopmental, mood, anxiety, OCD, dissociative, trauma-related, eating, personality, schizophrenia spectrum), and treatment approaches. The exam weight remains about 18–28%. Minor wording or emphasis can shift when the CED is updated, but the scope and learning objectives for 2025 match the outline above. For a concise review, Fiveable has a Unit 5 study guide, cheatsheets, and cram videos at the same link to help you prep efficiently.
How long should I study AP Psych Unit 5 to feel prepared for the exam?
Plan for about 10–20 focused hours spread over 2–4 weeks. Unit 5 (Mental and Physical Health) is 18–28% of the exam and covers 5.1–5.5, so give extra time to disorders (5.3–5.4) and treatments (5.5). Break it into 6–10 one-hour sessions: 1 hour each for 5.1 and 5.2, 3–5 hours total for 5.3–5.4 using active recall, and 2–3 hours for 5.5 including practice FRQ outlines. Add 2–4 hours for mixed practice questions and timed FRQ practice. If you’ve only got two weeks or less, prioritize disorder categories and treatments and do daily 30–60 minute practice sets. For focused review and practice aligned to the exam, use the College Board’s AP Psychology Course and Exam Description and past exam questions — see the unit’s topic listings and past FRQs at AP Central.
