Psychopathology (definitions)

Question 1

Specific phobias

Answer 1

Phobias of objects or situations, such as the fear of snakes

Question 2

Social anxiety

Answer 2

Phobias of social activities, such as public speaking

Question 3

Agoraphobia

Answer 3

The fear of being outside/in public places

Question 4

Generalisation

Answer 4

When the same response occurs when in contact with a stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimuli, e.g. a fear of rats leading to a fear of all small animals

Question 5

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 5

A treatment for phobias in which the phobic is gradually exposed to their fear. It uses classical conditioning to relearn a new response to the fear.

Question 6

Flooding

Answer 6

A treatment for phobias in which the phobic is immediately exposed to their fear in extreme conditions. It prevents negative reinforcement by making the phobic face their fear.

Question 7

Major depressive disorder

Answer 7

A severe but often short-term case of depression

Question 8

Persistent depressive disorder

Answer 8

A long term or recurring case of depression

Question 9

Negative schema

Answer 9

Negative thoughts and beliefs developed in childhood as a result of a negative experience such as bullying, poor parenting, or physical/emotional abuse. Examples include ‘no one likes me’ and ‘life is pointless’.

Question 10

Irrational beliefs/thoughts

Answer 10

Any belief that distorts reality in a way that interferes with our ability to be happy

Question 11

Global assessment of functioning

Answer 11

An assessment guide for mental health which uses a scale of 1-100, 1 being the worst mental health state and 100 being the best.

Question 12

A compulsion

Answer 12

A behaviour you feel like you need to do

Question 13

An obsession

Answer 13

A cognition which you are constantly aware of

Question 14

Statistical deviation

Answer 14

Behaviours/cognitions which are rare/vary from the average (the top or bottom 2.28%)

Question 15

Deviation from social norms

Answer 15

Behaviour/cognitions which are socially unacceptable

Question 16

Failure to function adequately

Answer 16

The inability to function in everyday life

Question 17

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 17

Failing to meet criteria for normal mental functioning

Question 18

False positive

Answer 18

Behaviour which is normal, but would be considered abnormal by a particular definition of abnormality

Question 19

False negative

Answer 19

Behaviour which is abnormal, but would be considered normal by a particular definition of abnormality

Question 20

Phobia

Answer 20

An irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 21

Depression

Answer 21

A mental disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels

Question 22

Behavioural characteristics

Answer 22

Ways in which people act

Question 23

Emotional characteristics

Answer 23

Ways in which people feel

Question 24

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 24

Ways in which people think

Question 25

OCD

Answer 25

A disorder characterised by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours

Question 26

Behavioural activation

Answer 26

Encouraging a depressed patient to be more active and engage in enjoyable activities