DP 10 - Phobia 4P factor model

Question 1

3 biological factors

Answer 1

GABA dysfunction (predisposing)

Role of stress response (precipitating)

LTP (perpetuating)

Question 2

3 psychological factors

Answer 2

Behavioural model:
Classical conditioning (precipitating)

Behavioural model:
Operant conditioning (perpetuating)

Cognitive model:
Memory bias
Cognitive bias
Catastrophic thinking
(perpetuating)

Question 3

2 social factors

Answer 3

Specific environmental triggers (predisposing)

Stigma of receiving treatment (perpetuating)

Question 4

What is GABA dysfunction?

Answer 4

GABA is inhibitory so makes postsynaptic neurons less likely to fire. This means is reduces arousal and anxiety.

GABA dysfunction is where there is a no GABA being produced or it is irregular so there are low levels.

This may mean more vulnerable to anxiety and their fff response is more easily triggered.

Question 5

Role of stress response?

Answer 5

• the physiological symptoms of stress response can exacerbate fear.
• can be caused by GABA

Question 6

CC and OC

Answer 6

Learn phobia through classical conditioning.
By avoiding the feared stimulus, the fear is reduced and so rewarded, which maintains phobia

Question 7

Memory bias and catastrophic thinking

Answer 7

Memory bias is where we focus on the negative information of a phobia stimulus memory.

catastrophic thinking is exaggerating and predicting the worst possible outcome.

Question 8

Specific environmental trigger

Answer 8

developing a specific phobia from a first negative experience of a stimulus

Question 9

Stigma

Answer 9

Embarrassment about symptoms and concerns being negatively judged by others