Characteristics Of Mental Disorders Flashcards
What is the definition of phobias?
Type of anxiety disorder
Characterised by excessive/unreasonable persistent fear caused by presence/anticipation of specific object or situation
What are the behavioural characteristics of a phobia?
Avoidance & panic
What are the emotional characteristics of a phobia?
Excessive unreasonable fear & anxiety
What are the cognitive characteristics of a phobia?
Selective attention: find it difficult to focus attention elsewhere if faced with phobia
Irrational thinking: e.g. person with arachnophobia believing all spiders deadly
What are symptoms of depression?
Depressed mood
Insomnia
Loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness
Significant weight gain/loss
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
Loss of energy
Change in appetite - some will significantly gain or lose weight
Change in sleep - sleep significantly more or less
What are the emtional characteristics of depression?
Feelings of sadness
Depressed mood
Anger at themselves or others, leading to self-harming/dangerous behaviours
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
Poor concentration
Focus on negative side of situation
Reoccurring thoughts of death/suicide
Find it difficult to make decisions
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Repetitive behaviour to reduce anxiety, e.g. hand washing for excessive fear of germs
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
Anxiety & depression caused by obsessions, results in low mood
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Reoccurring thoughts
Irrational fears/beliefs
Selective attention towards anxiety-generating stimuli
What is OCD?
Anxiety disorder characterised by intrusive & uncontrollable thoughts coupled with need to perform specific acts repeatedly (compulsions)
What is depression?
Mood disorder where individual feels sad &/or lacks interest in usual activities
