[Psychopathology] Topic 3 - Mental disorders

Question 1

Phobia

Answer 1

• Definition:
  [] A Phobia is an anxiety disorder, and is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
• Behavioural characteristics of phobias:
  [] Panic: Response to the Phobic stimulus.
  [] Avoidance: Avoid getting into contact with the phobic.
  [] Endurance: Alternative to avoidance, sufferer remains in the presence of the phobic stimulus
• Emotional characteristics of phobias:
  [] Anxiety and fear
  [] Example: Arachnophobia, fear of spiders
  [] Emotional responses are unreasonable.
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias
  [] Selective attention to the phobic stimulus: It is hard to look away from the phobic stimulus.
  [] Irrational beliefs: This kind of belief increases the pressure on the sufferer to preform well in social situations
  [] Cognitive distortions: The phobics perception of the phobic stimulus may be distorted.

Question 2

Depression

Answer 2

• Definition:
  Depression is a mood disorder.
• Behavioural:
  [] Activity levels: Reduce levels of energy, knock on effect.
  [] Disruption to sleep and eating behavior: Sufferers may experience insomnia
  [] Aggression and self harm: Often irritable, in some cases they can become verbally or physically aggressive
• Emotional:
  [] Lowered mood: Feeling worthless or empty
  [] Anger: Frequently they experience anger, at self or others
  [] Lowered self- esteem: Hating themselves
• Cognitive:
  [] Poor concentration
  [] Attending to and dwelling on the negative: Glass half empty rather than glass half full.
  [] Absolutist thinking: Black and white thinking

Question 3

OCD

Answer 3

Definition:
A condition characterised by obsession

• Behavioural characteristics
  [] Compulsions: Repetitive and reduce anxiety,
  [] Avoidance: OCD sufferers try to keep away from situations that trigger it
• Emotional characteristics
  [] Anxiety and distress: Unpleasant emotional experience
  [] Accompanying depression: OCD is accompanied by depression
  [] Guilt and disgust:: Irrational guilt
• Cognitive
  [] Obsessive thoughts: thoughts that recall over and over
  [] Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
  [] Insight into excessive anxiety: People are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational.