PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - phobias

Question 1

what is a phobia?

Answer 1

an irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 2

what are the DSM-5 categories of phobias?

Answer 2

SPECIFIC PHOBIA - phobia of an object. eg animal or body part
SOCIAL PHOBIA - phobia of a social situation. eg public speaking
AGORAPHOBIA- phobia of being outside or in a public space

Question 3

what are the behavioural characteristics of phobia?

Answer 3

1. PANIC - involves a range of behaviours including screaming, crying or running away.
   children = freezing, tantrums, clinging
2. AVOIDANCE - making effort to prevent coming into contact with phobic stimulus.
3. ENDURANCE - when the person chooses to remain in the presence of phobic stimulus

Question 4

what are emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 4

1.ANXIETY - an emotional response of anxiety, an unpleasant state of high arousal

2. FEAR - immediate extreme unpleasant response we experience when we encounter or think about the phobic stimulus
3. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE IS UNREASONABLE - the anxiety or fear is greater than ‘normal’ and disproportionate to any threat posed.

Question 5

what are cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 5

1.SELECTIVE ATTENTION TO THE PHOBIC STIMULUS - keeping attention on the phobic stimulus as it gives the best chance to react quickly, but not so useful when the fear is irrational.

2.IRRATIONAL BELIEFS - unfounded thoughts in relation to phobic stimulus

3.COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS - the perceptions of a person with a phobia may be inaccurate and unrealistic