Phobias

Question 1

What’s the DSM

Answer 1

For classifying and diagnosing mental health problems
Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders
Updates as ideas about normality changes

Question 2

What is a phobia and explain the 3 types

Answer 2

Type of anxiety disorder . All phobias are characterised by excessive fear and anxiety triggered by an object place or situation. The extent of fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by phobic stimulus.
Specific phobia - for eg object animal or situation
Social - phobia of social situation eg speaking
Agoraphobia - fear of leaving home or safe space eg being outside

Question 3

Explain behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

Panic - crying screaming running away
Avoidance - eg shortcuts home to avoid graveyard
Distraction of functioning - eg working and social functioning

Question 4

Emotional characteristics

Answer 4

Anxiety - unpleasant state of high arousal makes it difficult to experience positive emotions.
Fear - extremely unreasonable, disproportionate to actual danger

Question 5

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 5

Irrational beliefs - resistant to rational arguments
Selective attention - eg struggle to concentrate and difficulty looking away