Phobia Characteristics

Question 1

What does DSM?

Answer 1

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Question 2

What is DSM used for?

Answer 2

to classify symptoms of different mental disorders

so psychiatrists can use this info to give a diagnosis

Question 3

name some characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

• excessive fear + anxiety

- triggered by objects, places, situations

Question 4

name the categories of phobias

Answer 4

specific phobia

social anxiety (social phobia)

agoraphobia

Question 5

define specific phobia

Answer 5

phobia of an object or a situation

e.g animal, flying

Question 6

define social anxiety

Answer 6

phobia of social situation

e.g public speaking

Question 7

define agoraphobia

Answer 7

fear of being outside or in public space

worrying there will be no one to help when something goes wrong

Question 8

behavioural characteristics of a phobia

Answer 8

• panic
• avoidance
• endurance

Question 9

emotional characteristics of a phobia

Answer 9

• anxiety

- unreasonable emotional response

Question 10

cognitive characteristics of a phobia

Answer 10

• irrational beliefs

- cognitive distortions