Psychopathology - characteristics of disorders

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

A mental health disorder characterised by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding/enjoyable activities.

Question 2

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• Extreme sadness = feeling ‘empty’, ‘worthless’ or ‘hopeless’
• Low self-esteem = feeling like you don’t like yourself
• Anger = directed towards others or self, comes from general feeling of being emotionally hurt

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• Reduced activity levels = sense of tiredness, desire to sleep and lower activity
• Increased/decreased eating and sleeping
• Self-harm and attempted suicide

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

• Negative thoughts/schemas = negative self-beliefs (guilt, worthlessness)
• Poor concentration = cannot focus as normal and find it difficult to make decisions
• Absolutist thinking = black and white thinking (extremes, unable to see grey areas)
• Memory bias - cognitive bias of remembering unhappy events easily

Question 5

What is OCD?

Answer 5

Obsessive compulsive disorder - common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts (internal) and compulsive behaviours (external)

Question 6

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 6

• Anxiety and distress = obsessive thoughts are intrusive and frightening. Urge to compulsively repeat behaviour also produces anxiety
• Embarrassment and shame = OCD sufferers are aware their thoughts are irrational and compulsive behaviours are abnormal
• Depression and low mood

Question 7

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 7

• Compulsive behaviours = sufferers act on their obsessive thoughts with repeated and compulsive behaviours to reduce anxiety. 10% show compulsive behaviour alone
• Avoidance = sufferers may attempt to avoid situations which trigger obsessions and compulsions

Question 8

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 8

• Obsessive thoughts = 90% of OCD sufferers experience obsessive thoughts which repeat
• Hypervigilant = sufferers maintain constant alertness and focus on potential hazards despite knowing their cognitions are irrational
• Cognitive coping strategies = behaviour to deal with the obsessions
• Insight into excessive anxiety = aware obsessions and compulsions aren’t normal

Question 9

What is a phobia?

Answer 9

Persistent and irrational fear of specific situation, object or activity which is either avoided or endured with distress

Question 10

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 10

• Anxiety = unpleasant state of high arousal
• Fear = immediate response when phobic stimuli is encountered or thought of
• Emotional response is unreasonable (disproportionate to the actual danger/threat)

Question 11

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 11

• Panic = physical panic (fight or flight response) which can cause shortness of breath, shaking, high heart rate, crying and screaming
• Avoidance = sufferers show effort to avoid the phobic stimulus
• Endurance = remaining with the phobic stimulus but experiencing distress

Question 12

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 12

• Selective attention = person struggles to look away from phobic stimulus
• Irrational beliefs = unfounded thoughts that mean sufferers don’t respond to factual evidence
• Cognitive distortions - inaccurate and unrealistic perceptions

Question 13

What is the DSM-V?

Answer 13

Diagnostic statistical manual
Used to diagnose mental disorders

Question 14

What is the ICD-11?

Answer 14

International statistical classification for diseases
Used to diagnose mental disorders