Week 2 - Psychological Disorders (Anxiety, OCD, Trauma, Mood, Suicide) Flashcards
What are the 3 types of Anxiety Disorders?
Panic Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
What is Panic Disorder characterised by?
A sudden and repeated feeling of terror and anxiety panic attacks.
Prevalence of Panic Disorder
2% men
5% women
What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Chronic, excessive anxiety that occurs for at least 6 months
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is characterised by what 3 things
Restlessness and on edge
Fatigued easily
Difficulty in concentrating
Prevalence rate of GAD
2% males
3.5% females
What are the 3 types of phobias?
Agoraphobia
Social
Specific
What is Agoraphobia?
Fear of being in places or situations which escape might be difficult, embarrassing or in which help might not be available.
What is Social Phobia?
A fear of one or more social situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or possible scrutiny.
What is Specific Phobia?
Chronic or excessive fear that is cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object/situation.
it interferes with the persons normal routine and functioning.
What are the 4 theories of Anxiety?
Learning processes
Cognitive processes
Environmental factors
Genetic factors
What are the 3 learning processes?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Modelling
How can Classical Conditioning explain how phobias develop?
By pairing a scary stimuli with a neutral stimuli people become conditioned to fear the previously neutral stimuli
How can Operant Conditioning explain how phobias develop?
We remove an unpleasant stimulus (negative reinforcement) and so behaviour is rewarded and increases.
How can Modelling explain how phobias develop?
We observe someone else be afraid of something and in turn become afraid of it ourselves.
Cognitive Processes theory of anxiety
We interpret information or physiological arousal as threatening
Environmental factors of anxiety disorders
stressful life events are associated with the development of anxiety disorders eg PTSD
Genetic factor theory of anxiety
Different gene types can influence the brain eg increase brain reactivity to perceived threats (OCD, GAD)
What is PTSD? 4 points
Exposure to a traumatic event which resulted in a response of intense fear, helplessness or horror.
Persistent re-experience
Avoidance of stimuli that associated with traumatic event
Persistent symptoms of heightened arousal
When do symptoms of PTSD begin?
Usually 3 months after but have been reported to begin delays of months and years.
Lifetime prevalence of PTSD
1-14% of general community.
What is OCD? (2 points)
An anxiety disorder in which the mind is flooded with persistent and uncontrollable thoughts.
The individual is compelled to repeat certain acts again and again, causing significant stress.
What are obsessions?
Persistent or intrusive ideas, impulses or images that are unwanted and inappropriate and that cause distress.
What are compulsions?
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.
Prevalence of OCD
2-3% of the population, more common in women
What are the 2 types of depressive disorders?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Dysthymic Disorder
Definition of mood
A general feeling, typically not directed at anything
Definition of emotion
A state if arousal that is typically directed at a person/object
Depressive disorders are characterised by disturbances to what 2 things?
Mood and emotion.
What is mania?
An intense but unwarranted mood state of happiness
4 Symptoms of depressive disorders
Sad, depressed mood (almost all day, every day)
Loss of interest
Difficulties in sleeping (insomnia or hypersomnia)
Shift in activity levels
MDD requires symptoms of depression for how long?
at least 2 weeks
Prevalence of MDD
Twice as common in women
Most frequent in young adults
What percentage of people will experience a recurrence of a MDD episode?
80% within a year
What is Dysthymic Disorder?
A less severe, but more chronic type of depression
Dysthymic Disorder required the presence of what and for how long?
A depressed mood for a period of at least 2 years
Prevalence of Dysthymic Disorder
6-8% women
5% men
At any given time 3% of the population have it
Bipolar Disorder is characterised by what?
The presence of a manic episode and an episode of depression.
How many people have a recurring episode of Bipolar?
90%
Prevalence and genetic link of BPD
Equally common
Twin/adoption studies indicate a strong genetic link
What are some symptoms of mania? (2)
Increase in activity level
Unusual talkativeness/Rapid speech
What are the 2 supposed causes of depression?
Environmental and Biological causes
What are the 4 model causes of depression?
Interpersonal Model Behavioural Model Cognitive Model (Beck) Seligman's Theory of Learned Helplessness
The Interpersonal Model explains that depression occurs due to what?
Believes behaviours associated with depression lead to increased social isolation and increased depression.
Depression = Excessive support seeking = Increased pressure on relationships = Frustration and increased depression
The Behavioural Model explains that depression occurs due to what?
Believed depression can be explained by a lack of reinforcement in social activities which leads to withdrawal and thus reducing rewards even more
Suggests depression can be reduced by re-engaging in pleasant activities
Beck’s Cognitive Triad Model explains that depression occurs due to what?
Negative beliefs about the world, self and the future which are triggered by life events which then leads to cognitive biases which leads to depression
Seligman’s Theory of Learned Helplessness explains that depression occurs due to what?
Depression occurs due to an uncontrollable aversive event which leads to feelings of helplessness, consequently leading to depression.
Biological causes of depression (2)
Reduction and imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine leads to depression
People who have two copies of a stress-sensitive gene are more vulnerable to developing depression
Environmental/Life cause and risk factors of depression (1 cause, 3 risk factors)
Stressors in the environment are associated with the development of depression
Negative home environment
Death of family member
Parental divorce
People with BPD are how likely to commit suicide?
15 times more likely
Suicide accounts for how many Australian deaths?
1.4%
