Risk Factors

Question 1

GABA Dysfunction

(3)

Answer 1

• incorrect amount of GABA to regulate neurotransmission
• excess activation of postsynaptic neurons
• increased anxiety levels, fear responses and physiological arousal

Question 2

Long-term potentiation

(3)

Answer 2

• long lasting strengthening of synaptic connections between the neurons in the neural pathway related to the association between the phobic stimulus and fear response
• strengthening of this neural pathway increases efficency of transmission of fear information, decreases likelihood of forgetting the learnt information and increases likelihood of phobic response to phobic stimulus in the future
• likely to be occuring in the amygdala for phobias

Question 3

Classical Conditioning Phobia

(2)

Answer 3

• precipitates/triggers phobia
• involved in the formation and learning of phobia

Question 4

Operant Conditioning Phobia

(3)

Answer 4

• antecedent - presence of phobic stimulus
• behaviour - avoiding the phobic stimulus
• consequence - negative reinforcement as the unpleasant stimulus of fear/anxiety is removed when avoiding the phobic stimulus, increasing the likelihood of the phobic response in the future and prevents desensitisation which perpetuates/prolongs the phobia

Question 5

Memory Bias

(2)

Answer 5

• an error in thinking that impairs/alters the retrieval of memory, reduces challenging of anxious/unrealistic thoughts, strengthens negative thoughts about phobic stimulus each time negative memory is recalled
• tendency to recall negative information rather than positive information about phobic stimulus
• tendency to exaggerate the negative experience with the phobic stimulus as more threatening than it actually was

Question 6

Catastrophic Thinking

(2)

Answer 6

• negative thinking in which an object, situation or event is seen as more threatening/dangerous than it actually is
• irrational or unrealistic thoughts about the phobic stimulus/tendency to believe the worst, leading to avoidance behaviours

Question 7

Specific Environmental Triggers

(4)

Answer 7

• a specific cue for a phobic response (avoidance behaviour or fear response) that may precipitate/perpetuate a phobia by leading to the creation of cognitive biases
• direct exposure to phobic stimulus
• witnessing other people exposed to phobic stimulus
• reading or hearing about the phobic stimulus

Question 8

Stigma

Answer 8

• negative social attitude about an individual that may lead to them not seeking treatment or help