Characteristics of depression, OCD and phobias

Question 1

what is a phobia?

Answer 1

• irrational, extreme fear of objects or situations (social)

Question 2

examples of phobias:

Answer 2

• arachnophobia= spiders
• claustrophobia= confined spaces

Question 3

behavioural characteristics of phobias:

Answer 3

• avoidance
• panic
• failure to function

Question 4

what is avoidance?

Answer 4

• physically adapting normal behaviour to avoid phobic objects

Question 5

what is panic?

Answer 5

• uncontrollable physical response
• most likely to happen at presence of phobic object

Question 6

what is failure to function?

Answer 6

• difficulty in taking part in activities required to perform a normal life

Question 7

emotional characteristics of phobias:

Answer 7

• anxiety
• fear

Question 8

what is anxiety (phobias)?

Answer 8

• uncomfortably high and persistent state of arousal, making it difficult to relax
• heightened anxiety when the individual is likely to encounter the phobia

Question 9

what is fear (phobia)?

Answer 9

• intense emotional state
• linked to fight-or-flight response
• sensation of extreme and unpleasant alertness in the presence of the phobia
• only subsides when phobic object is removed

Question 10

cognitive characteristics of phobias:

Answer 10

• irrational thoughts (fears)
• reduced cognitive capacity

Question 11

what are irrational thoughts (fears)?

Answer 11

• negative and irrational mental processes
• exaggerated belief in the harm th phobic object could cause

Question 12

what is reduced cognitive capacity?

Answer 12

• people with a phobia cant concentrate on day-to-day activities like work
• excessive attentional focus on the phobic objects
• constant concerns about potential danger they’re in

Question 13

what is depression?

Answer 13

• a mood disorder
• constant and long lasting sense of sadness

Question 14

behavioural characteristics of depression:

Answer 14

• reduction in activity levels
• change in eating behaviour
• increases aggression

Question 15

what is a reduction in activity levels?

Answer 15

• lethargy
• lacking energy needed to perform everyday activities

Question 16

what is anhedonia?

Answer 16

• lack of pleasure usually felt doing enjoyable activities
• leading to reduction in social behaviour

Question 17

what is a change in eating behaviour?

Answer 17

• often results in significant weight gain or weight loss

Question 18

what is an increase in aggression?

Answer 18

• aggression towards other people
• can also take form as self harm

Question 19

Emotional characteristics of depression:

Answer 19

• sadness
• guilt

Question 20

what is sadness?

Answer 20

• persistent, very low mood

Question 21

what is guilt?

Answer 21

• helplessness
• feeling that they have no value in comparison to other people

Question 22

what is lack of concentration?

Answer 22

• cant give their full attention to tasks
• indecisive in decision making

Question 22

cognitive characteristics of depression:

Answer 22

• lack of concentration
• negative schemas

Question 23

what are negative schemas?

Answer 23

• automatic negative biases when thinking about themselves, the world and the future

Question 24

what is OCD (obsessive compulsive disorders)?

Answer 24

- constant intrusive thoughts that= high anxiety - compulsions that are a behavioral response - attempt to deal with invasive thought processes

Question 25

behavioural characteristics of OCD:

Answer 25

- compulsions - avoidance - social impairments

Question 26

what are compulsions?

Answer 26

- behaviours done repeatedly to reduce anxiety - anxiety reduction is temporary

Question 27

what is avoidance in OCD?

Answer 27

- take or resist actions to avoid being in the presence of objects/ situations that trigger obsessions

Question 28

what is social impairment?

Answer 28

- not doing enjoyable social activities - due to difficulty leaving the house without triggering obsessions - need to carry out compulsions becomes time consuming

Question 29

Emotional characteristics of OCD:

Answer 29

- anxiety - depression

Question 30

what is anxiety (OCD)?

Answer 30

- uncomfortably high and persistent state of arousal, making it difficult to relax - results from obsessions and constant worst case scenario thinking

Question 31

what is depression (OCD)?

Answer 31

- constant and long lasting sense of sadness - unable to control anxiety causing thoughts - OCD symptoms taking over the sufferers life - leading to issues like social withdrawal

Question 32

Cognitive characteristics of OCD:

Answer 32

- obsessions - hypervigilance - selective attention

Question 33

what are obsessions?

Answer 33

- intrusive, irrational and recurrent thoughts - tend to be unpleasant and catastrophic thoughts about potential dangers

Question 34

what is hypervigilance?

Answer 34

- permanent state of alertness - always looking for source of obsessive thoughts

Question 35

what is selective attention?

Answer 35

- focused on the objects connected to their obsession - cant focus on other things in their environment or concentrate on conversations