psychopathology - characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD

Question 1

what are the behavioural symptoms of phobias

Answer 1

• avoidance: physically adapting normal behaviour to avoid phobic stimuli
• panic: an uncontrollable physical response such as screaming and running
• failure to function: difficulty taking part in normal day to day activities

Question 2

what are the emotional symptoms of phobias

Answer 2

• anxiety: an uncomfortably high and persistent state of arousal
  fear: intense emotional sensation of extreme and unpleasant alertness. it only subsides when phobic object is removed

Question 3

what are the cognitive symptoms of phobias

Answer 3

irrational thoughts: irrational and negative mental processes that include an exaggerated belief in the harm of the phobic object could cause
- reduced cognitive capacity: due to attentional focus of phobic object

Question 4

what are the behavioural symptoms of depression

Answer 4

• reduced activity level: includes lethargy, lacking the energy needed to perform everyday activities
• change in eating behaviour: either significant weight gain or weight loss
• aggression: to others or self harm

Question 5

what are the emotional symptoms of depression

Answer 5

• sadness: a persistent very low mood
• guilt: linked to helplessness and a feeling that they have no value in comparison to other people

Question 6

what are the cognitive symptoms of depression

Answer 6

• poor concentration: people with depression cannot give their full attention to tasks
• negative schemas: automatic negative biases when thinking about themselves, the world and the future

Question 7

what are the behavioural symptoms of OCD

Answer 7

• compulsions: behaviours performed repeatedly to reduce anxiety eg. checking and cleaning behaviours
• avoidance: takes action to avoid objects that trigger obsessions

Question 8

what are the emotional symptoms of OCD

Answer 8

• anxiety: an uncomfortably high and persistent state of arousal making it difficult to relax
• depression: a consistent and long lasting sense of sadness due to being unable to control thoughts

Question 9

what are the cognitive symptoms of OCD

Answer 9

• obsessions: intrusive, irrational recurrent thoughts that tend to be unpleasant catastrophic thoughts
• hypervigilance: a permanent state of alertness, looking for the source of obsessive thoughts