4. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY (BEHAVIOURAL, EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS, DEPRESSION AND OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)) Flashcards
What is a phobia?
A disorder characterized by high levels of anxiety in response to a specific stimulus or group of stimuli. The anxiety experienced interferes with normal living and daily activities.
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder where an individual experiences persistent sadness and/or a lack of interest in usual activities. Additional features include irrational negative thoughts, changes in activity levels, and difficulties with concentration, sleep, and eating.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
OCD is an anxiety disorder where anxiety arises from persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions). The compulsions are performed in an attempt to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions.
What are the key behavioural characteristics of phobias?
- Panic: Physical reactions like crying, screaming, or running away. Children may freeze or cling.
- Avoidance: Efforts to avoid the phobic stimulus, which may interfere with daily life, work, social activities, or relationships.
- Endurance: Remaining in the presence of the phobic stimulus while continuing to experience high anxiety.
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?
- Anxiety: High levels of anxiety that prevent relaxation and make it difficult to experience positive emotions.
- Unreasonable Response: The emotional reaction to the phobic stimulus is disproportionate to the actual danger posed.
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?
- Selective Attention: Difficulty focusing on anything other than the phobic stimulus.
- Irrational Beliefs: Resistance to rational arguments (e.g., fear of flying despite evidence that flying is safe).
- Cognitive Distortions: Distorted perception of the phobic stimulus (e.g., seeing a belly button as ugly or disgusting in omphalophobia).
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
- Change in Activity Levels: Fatigue or restlessness, with activity levels being either reduced or increased.
- Disruption of Sleep and Eating: Insomnia or excessive sleep, and appetite changes (either loss or overeating).
- Aggression and Self-Harm: Increased irritability, verbal or physical aggression, and potential for self-harm or suicide attempts.
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
- Lowered Mood: Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of pleasure in normal activities.
- Anger: Directed towards others or oneself due to feelings of hurt and frustration.
- Lowered Self-Esteem: Feeling worthless, hopeless, and having negative self-perception.
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
- Attending to Negative: Focusing on negative aspects of situations and disregarding the positives.
- Absolutist Thinking: Viewing situations as either completely good or completely bad (black-and-white thinking).
- Poor Concentration: Difficulty focusing on tasks or making simple decisions.
What are the behavioural characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
- Compulsions: Repetitive actions (e.g., hand washing) performed to alleviate the anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts.
- Avoidance: Avoiding situations that trigger obsessions or compulsions.
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
- Anxiety, Worry, and Distress: Persistent anxiety from both obsessions and compulsions.
- Guilt and Disgust: Negative emotions directed at external sources (e.g., dirt) or the self.
- Accompanying Depression: Feelings of low mood and lack of enjoyment. Temporary relief from compulsions but no lasting emotional improvement.
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
- Obsessive Thoughts: Intrusive, recurrent thoughts (e.g., fear of germs).
- Insight into Anxiety: Recognizing that the obsessive thoughts are excessive but feeling unable to control them.
- Hypervigilance: Constant alertness to potential dangers, maintaining focus on possible hazards.
