psychopathology - charachteristics Flashcards
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an extreme and irrational fear of objects (specific phobias) or certain situations (social phobias).
Behavioural charachteristics of phobias
Avoidance - Physically adapting normal behaviour in order to avoid phobic objects.
Panic - Uncontrollable physical response at sudden appearance of phobic object e.g. screaming
Failure to function - Difficulty taking part in activities required to perform a normal life e.g. going to social events, work etc
Emotional charachteristics of phobias
Anxiety - An uncomfortable persistent and high state of arousal that makes it difficult for a person to relax - usually occurs when the individual encounters a phobia.
Fear - An intense emotional state linked to the fight-or-flight response, a sensation of extreme and unpleasant aleretness in the presence of the phobia that only subsides when the phobic object is removed.
Cognitive charachteristics of phobias
Irrational thoughts - Irrational mental processes that include an exaggurated belief in the harm the phobic object could cause them.
Reduced cognitive capacity - People with a phobia cannot concentrate on e.g. work due to the excessive attentional focus on the phobic objects and the constant concerns about the potential danger they feel they are in.
Behavioural charachteristics of depression
Reduction in activity level - includes lethargy, lacking the energy needed to perform everyday activities e.g. showering
A change in eating behaviour - causes significant weight gain or weight loss
An increase in aggression - This can be towards other people or the self e.g. self-harm.
Emotional charachteristics of depression
Sadness - a persistent very low mood
Guilt - Linked to helplessness and a feeling they have no value in comparison to other people
Cognitive charachteristics of depression
Poor concentration - People with depression cannot give full attention to tasks, and can be indecisive when needing to make a decision
Negative schemas - automatic negative biases when thinking about the self, the world and the future
What is depression?
A mood disorder charachterised by a consistent and long-lasting sense of sadness.
What is OCD?
Defined by obsessions, which are constant intrusive thoughts that cause high levels of anxiety, and compulsions, which are a behavioural response to deal with the intrusive thoughts.
Behavioral charachteristics of OCD
Compulsions - behaviour performed to reduce anxiety - only works temporarily e.g. ritual cleaning behaviours, checking behaviours
Avoidance - avoidance of objects/situations that trigger obsessions
Social impairment - not participating in enjoyable social activities, often due to difficulty leaving the house without triggering obsessions or the time needed to carry out compulsions becomes time-consuming.
Emotional charachteristics of OCD
Anxiety - a persistent state of high arousal, making it difficult to relax. Comes from the obsession, the constant worst-case scenario thinking that defines OCD.
Depression - a consistent and long-lasting state of sadness. The result of being unable to control the intrusive thoughts and the symptoms that affect a sufferer’s quality of life.
Cognitive charachteristics of OCD
Obsessions - intrusive, irrational and reccurent thoughts that tend to be unpleasant catastrophic thoughts about potential danger.
Hypervigilance - a persistent state of alertness where the sufferer is looking for the source of their obsessive thoughts
Selective attention - the sufferer is so focused on the objects relating to their obsession they can’t concentrate on the other things around them e.g. a conversation they’re in (tunnel-vision)
