psychological disorders & interventions

Question 1

what is agoraphobia?

Answer 1

Develops as a complication of panic attacks
• Agoraphobia may arise by the fear of having a
panic attack in a setting from which escape is
difficult (or embarrassing)
• As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia avoid
public and/or unfamiliar places, especially large,
open, spaces where there are few ‘places to hide‘
or prevent easy escape

Question 2

what is a panic attack?

Answer 2

A discrete period in which there is the sudden
onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness, or
terror, often associated with feeling of
impending doom. During these attacks,
symptoms such as shortness of breath,
palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, choking
or smothering sensations, and fear of “going
crazy” or losing control are present

Question 3

what is an example of a behaviour therapy?

Answer 3

exposure approach
influenced by both classical and operant conditioning approaches

treat phobias through exposure to the feared conditioned stimulus in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus

eg CS- car UCS- car accident

Question 4

what is an example of a mood disorder?

Answer 4

depression

Question 5

what is a depressive episode characterized by?

Answer 5

a period of almost daily depressed mood or diminished
interest in activities lasting at least two weeks
– Other symptoms include:
difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness
excessive or inappropriate guilt, hopelessness,
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide,
changes in appetite or sleep,
psychomotor agitation or retardation,
reduced energy or fatigue.

Question 6

describe the results to different forms of depression treatment

Answer 6

54% of adults show improvement after anti depressive behaviour
35-40% show an improvement after taking a placebo
60% show improvement after psychotherapy
53% with untreated depression show improvement after 12 months