Psychopathology : Clinical Characteristics

Question 1

What are phobias?

Answer 1

Phobias are categorised as an anxiety disorder which cause an irrational fear of a particular object or situation. There are three categories of phobia:
- simple (specific) phobias
– social phobias
- agoraphobia

Question 2

What are diagnostic features of phobias?

Answer 2

1. Intense, persistent, irrational fear of a situation or object
2. Response is disproportionate and leads to avoidance of phobic object, event or situation
3. Fear is severe enough to interfere with every day life

Question 3

What is the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 3

• Anxiety - feelings of worry around the presence of phobic stimuli
• unpleasant state of high arousal
• Fear - feelings of terror that the phobic stimuli will bite you
• fear is immediate and extremely unpleasant response we experience when encounter the phobic stimuli

Question 4

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 4

• panic - crying , screaming , running away
• Avoidance – effort to keep away from the phobic stimulus.
  • Endurance – in unavoidable situations (i.e. flying) continuous and extreme
  anxiety)

Question 5

What is the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 5

• Irrational thought processes-I will die if I go on a plane
• Person knows that their fear is excessive
• Thinking resists rational arguments about the phobia

Question 6

What four categories are simple Phobias divided into ?

Answer 6

• animal phobias
• injury phobias
• situational phobias
• natural phobias

Question 7

What are social phobias

Answer 7

Social phobias involve feeling anxious in social situations example when giving a public speech

Question 8

What three categories Do social phobias further divide into?

Answer 8

• performance
• interaction
• generalised

Question 9

What is agoraphobia

Answer 9

Agoraphobia is a fear of open or public spaces and sufferers may experience panic attacks and anxiety, which makes them feel available in open spaces

Question 10

How is agoraphobia caused?

Answer 10

Agoraphobia can be caused by simple phobias and/or social phobias

Question 11

What is depression

Answer 11

Depression is a category of mental disorders, which is often divided into two main types: unipolar and bipolar disorder ( formerly known as manic - depression)

Question 12

How can you be diagnosed with depression

Answer 12

To be given a diagnosis of depression sufferers are required to display at least five symptoms every day for at least two weeks

Question 13

What is obsessive compulsive disorder ( OCD)

Answer 13

Is an anxiety disorder that has two main components, obsession and compulsions. Obsessions are recurring and persistent thoughts and compulsions are repetitive behaviours.

Question 14

How do people who suffer with OCD deal with their obsession?

Answer 14

Some sufferers of OCD can adopt cognitive strategies to deal with the obsessions. Example suffers with religious obsessions May pray over and over to reduce their feelings of being immoral .

Question 15

What is the behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 15

Reduction in energy and constantly feeling tired, disturbed sleep pattern and changes in appetite.

Question 16

What is emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 16

Depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness and lack of interest or pleasure in every day activities.

Question 17

What is cognitive characteristics of depression.

Answer 17

Diminished ability to concentrate and a tendency to focus on the negative

Question 18

What is the behavioural characteristics of OCD.

Answer 18

Repetitive compulsions used to manage or reduce anxiety

Question 19

What is emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 19

Anxiety and depression caused by the interruption to daily life

Question 20

What is cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 20

Obsessive thoughts and selective attention directed towards the anxiety generating stimuli