Psychological disorder - anxiety disorders.

Question 1

What are the most prevelant mental health problem?

Answer 1

Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive episode and mixed anxiety/depressive disorder

Question 2

What are the anxiety disorders?

Answer 2

Panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, GAD and phobias.

Question 3

What are the features of panic disorder?

Answer 3

Selective attention to bodily events.

In-situation safety behaviours.

Avoidance.

Question 4

What are the key features of PTSD?

Answer 4

Repeated re-living of traumatic event.

Persistant efforts at avoidance of memories and emotional blunting.

Persistant symptoms of hyperarousal and survivor guilt

Question 5

What are the features of OCD?

Answer 5

Obsessions – intrusions of thoughts, images, impulses that produce anxiety (e.g. fear of causing harm, contamination)  —–Compulsions – behaviours or rituals that reduce anxiety (e.g. washing, checking)

Question 6

What are the features of GAD?

Answer 6

Excessive and uncontrollable worry about future events & outcomes

Tension and dread + somatic symptoms

1-5% population in last 12 months

Co-occurs with other anxiety disorders, depression, many medical conditions

Question 7

What is a phobia?

Answer 7

Irrational fear of specific objects or situations

Realisation that fear disproportionate and irrational

Desire to avoid object or situation

Avoidant behaviour negatively reinforced by reduction in anxiety

Question 8

How are phobias acquired?

Answer 8

Via classical conditioning.

Signal (CS) - Sight of needle

Trauma (UCS) - injection/pain

Reaction (UCR) - fright/withdrawal

Result (CR) - needle phobia

Question 9

What is vicarious acquisition?

Answer 9

Parents - strong associations between parent and child

Via others, film and TV