Psychopathology- Depression, Phobias and OCD Flashcards
What is the DSM used for?
Classifying disorders using defined diagnostic criteria which includes a list of symptoms to be used as a tool for diagnosis
What is the strength of the DSM?
Makes diagnosis concrete and descriptive
What do DSM classifications allow?
Data to be collected about a disorder which can help in the development of new treatments and medication
How has the DSM been criticised?
For stigmatising people and ignoring ‘uniqueness’ by putting them in artificial groups
How are mood disorders characterised?
By strong emotions which can influence a person’s ability to function normally such as perception, thinking and behaviour
What is major depression (unipolar disorder)?
An episode of depression that can occur suddenly, can be reactive (caused by external factors) or endogenous (caused by internal factors)
What is manic depression (bipolar disorder)?
Alteration between two mood extremes (mania and depression), change in mood often occurs in regular cycles of days or weeks, episodes of mania involve overactivity, rapid speech and feeling extremely happy or agitated
What are the behavioural symptoms of depression?
Changes in activity levels, disturbances to sleep and eating behaviour, aggression and self-harm
What are the cognitive symptoms of depression?
Poor concentration, attending to and dwelling on the negative, absolutist thinking
What are the emotional symptoms of depression?
Low mood, anger, low self-esteem
What is a phobia?
An anxiety disorder of an extreme, irrational fear
What is a specific phobia?
A fear of specific objects or situations
What is agoraphobia?
A fear of open spaces, using public transport, being in an enclosed space, waiting in line, being in a crowd or being out of the house
What is a social phobia/social anxiety?
Fear of being in social situations
What are behavioural symptoms of phobias?
Panic, avoidance and endurance
What are cognitive symptoms of phobias?
Selective attention, irrational beliefs, cognitive distortions
What are emotional symptoms of phobias?
Anxiety, fear, unreasonable emotional response
What is the criteria for a fear classified as a phobia according to the DSM?
- Significant prolonged fear of an object or situation which lasts more than 6 months
- Experience an anxiety response when exposed to phobic stimulus
- Out of proportion to any real danger
- Go out of their way to avoid the phobic stimulus
- Phobia disrupts lives
Do all people with OCD experience obsessions AND compulsions?
No, most experience both
How many people are affected by OCD?
About 2% of the world’s population
Who can be affected by OCD?
Men and women, all ethnic groups
What are obsessions?
Persistent and reoccurring thoughts, images or impulses that are unwanted and cause distress and the person actively tries to ignore obsessions and they have not been caused by other physiological substances such as drugs
What are compulsions?
Physical or mental repetitive actions (external aspect of OCD), reduces anxiety for a short time
What criteria does the DSM use to diagnose compulsions?
- Person repeats physical behaviours or mental acts that relate to obsessions
- Compulsions are meant to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared situation but in reality they are excessive or wouldn’t actually stop a situation
- Compulsions have not been caused by other physiological substances such as drugs
What are some types of OCD behaviours?
Checking, contamination, hoarding, symmetry and orderliness
What are the behavioural symptoms of OCD?
Compulsions are repetitive, compulsions reduce anxiety, avoidance
What are the cognitive symptoms of OCD?
Obsessive thoughts, cognitive coping strategies, insight into excessive anxiety
What are the emotional symptoms of OCD?
Anxiety and distress, accompanying depression, guilt and disgust
