phobias

Question 1

Phobia definition

Answer 1

intense , irrational fear of a neutral onject, activity or situation that would nto common causes distress, or excessive fear of an inherently aversive stimulus

Question 2

presentation of phobias

Answer 2

sudden onset itesne anxiety when faced w a particular stimulus
accompanied by autonmic features of anxiety
little to no baseline anxiety when not around the feared stimulus
avoidance of the distressing stimulus which can affect functioning
if sever, may present w frank panic attacks or the patient becoming housebound

Question 3

agoraphobia

Answer 3

fear of entering corwded publc pplaces, usually where escape of seeking help may be difficult

Question 4

social phobia

Answer 4

fear of scrutiny of others in social situations, and concern that it will lead to humiliation or embarassment

Question 5

Two step process that underlies the dvelopment of a phobia

Answer 5

1 - neutral stimulus is paired w and aversive one oraniety si felt about an intrinisically aversive stimulus
2- association of neutral stimulus w anxiety causes avidance of the stimulus and reduces the anx in the short termbut will increasingly difficult to be exposed to the stimulus

Question 6

managemebt of phobia

Answer 6

• follows principles of anxiety managemnt
• first line - psyhcological therapy - systematic desensitisation
• benzos can be used for phobias when stimulus is less common
• SSRis for patients w moderate t sever agoraphobia and social phobia