Characteristics of Phobias, Depression and OCD

Question 1

Phobias

Answer 1

-Phobias are an extreme and irrational fear of an object or social situation

Question 2

Behavioural characteristics (Physically observable actions) of phobias (Avoidance)

Answer 2

-Avoidance is when an individual physically adapts their behaviour to avoid a phobic object (E.g crossing the street to avoid a seagull)

Question 3

Panic (Behavioural characteristic)

Answer 3

-Panic is an uncontrollable physical response that is most likely to happen at a sudden appearance of the phobic object (e.g screaming and hyperventilation)

Question 4

Failure to function (Behavioural characteristic)

Answer 4

-Failure to function is having difficulty taking part in activities required in everyday life (e.g not being able to attend work or education or social events)
-Especially if the phobic object is something that you would expect to encounter at work/school/social events)

Question 5

Anxiety (emotional characteristic)

Answer 5

-Anxiety is an uncomfortably high and persistent level of arousal that makes it hard to relax
-Heightened anxiety occurs when the individual is likely to encounter a phobic object

Question 6

Fear (emotional characteristic)

Answer 6

-Fear is an intense emotional response that is linked to the fight or flight response
-It causes an uncomfortable and extreme level of alertness when in the presence of the phobia and only subsides when the phobic object is removed

Question 7

Irrational thoughts (cognitive characteristic)

Answer 7

-Irrational thoughts are when sufferers have an exaggerated belief about the harm that the phobic object could cause them

Question 8

Reduced cognitive capacity (cognitive characteristic)

Answer 8

-Reduced cognitive capacity is when sufferers are less able to concentrate on everyday activities such as work because of their extreme attentional focus on phobic objects and constant concerns about the potential danger that they are in

Question 9

Depression

Answer 9

-A mood disorder characterised by a consistent and long-lasting sense of sadness

Question 10

Reduction in activity levels (behavioural) (Depression)

Answer 10

-This is when sufferers lack the energy to perform daily activities (lethargy) such as personal hygiene or washing

Question 11

Changes in eating behaviour (behavioural) (Depression)

Answer 11

-This usually results in extreme weight loss/gain

Question 12

Increase in aggression (behavioural) (Depression)

Answer 12

-This can involve aggression towards other people but most likely involves self harm

Question 13

Sadness (emotional) (Depression)

Answer 13

-A persistent, very low mood

Question 14

Guilt (emotional) (Depression)

Answer 14

-Linked to helplessness, feeling like they have no value compared to other people

Question 15

Poor concentration (cognitive) (Depression)

Answer 15

-People with depression struggle to pay full attention to tasks and are often indecisive, unable to decide between completing both options

Question 16

Negative schemas (cognitive) (Depression)

Answer 16

-Sufferers of depression tend to have pre-existing negative biases about themselves, the future, and the world

Question 17

Compulsions (Behavioural) (OCD)

Answer 17

-Compulsions are behaviours that are repeatedly performed to reduce anxiety e.g ritualistic cleaning behaviours such as cleaning the kitchen, cleaning hands, etc

Question 18

Avoidance (Behavioural) (OCD)

Answer 18

-Avoidance involves taking action to avoid something that could trigger the obsessions

Question 19

Social impairment (Behavioural) (OCD)

Answer 19

-Social impairment involves not participating in fulfilling fun social activites
-This is mostly due to difficulty leaving the house without triggering obsessions as these can lead to compulsions which can be very time consuming

Question 20

Anxiety (Emotional) (OCD)

Answer 20

-Anxiety is a persistent uncomfortably high state of arousal
-This is caused by the obsessions (the worst case scenario)

Question 21

Depression (emotional) (OCD)

Answer 21

-Depression is a consistent, very low mood
-Depression is the result of anxiety causing obsessions

Question 22

Obsessions (Cognitive) (OCD)

Answer 22

-Obsessions are intrusive, irrational, recurrent thoughts that tend to be catastrophic thoughts about potential dangers

Question 23

Hypervigilance (Cognitive) (OCD)

Answer 23

-A permanent state of alertness where the sufferer is constantly looking for triggers for their obsessive thoughts

Question 24

Selective attention (Cognitive) (OCD)

Answer 24

-Selective attention is where the individual focuses so much attention on the sources of obsessive thoughts that they are unable to concentrate on other things in their environment