Death Anxiety Flashcards
whats a transdiagnostic construct
something that features across multiple disorders and represents a common causal mechanism
why focus on transdiagnostic constructs
allows for transdiagnostic treatment for people with comorbidities rather than one treatment for each disorder
what theory is behind Fear of Death FOD
there is no clinically relevant one but:
Becker ~ we all have innate motivation to live combined with factor that we know death is inevitable -> fear.
what does Terror Management Theory say
we have 2 defences against DA:
- cultural views (importance of something else, we are living through something greater than ourselves)
- self-esteem (sense of living from achievements related to what my culture values e.g. sport)
what do reminders of death lead to
increases in aggression, materialism, interracial conflict
in TMT what is the cultural worldviews defense mechanism
we gain virtual immortality by buying into beliefs
in TMT what is the self-esteem defence mechanism
we gain meaning by fulfilling expectations of cultural worldviews
what happens to defense mechanisms (buffers) for PTSD
people’s buffers are not working - reminders of death don’t lead to increased world view defence and self-esteem is weaker.
what might be the meaning of DA for the development of AN
Goldenberg et al: reminders of death lead to restrictive eating.
maybe the worldview = thinness is perfect.
so the restricted eating is their Buffer to DA.
how does DA occur in OCD
OCD compulsive behaviours are buffers for coping with DA
reminders of death lead to increased hand washing
which disorder has highest correlation with DA
OCD
what is wrong with current treatments
address proximal threat (e.g. i can now stand on a ladder and i wont die) and not existential threat - the core driver of the heights phobia
what treatment seems best
CBT with exposure - Reduces avoidance and changes the way the person lives their life. Gives perspective.
