Phobias, Depression and OCD

Question 1

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 1

Panic, avoidance, and endurance (e.g. staying in presence of stimulus but experiencing high anxiety).

Question 2

What are the emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 2

Emotional: Unreasonable fear and anxiety.

Cognitive: Selective attention to phobic stimulus and irrational beliefs (e.g., “If I blush, people will think I’m weak.”).

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

Reduced activity levels, disrupted sleep and eating, aggression, and self-harm.

Question 4

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

Low mood, feelings of worthlessness, and low self-esteem.

Question 5

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 5

Poor concentration, negative thinking patterns (e.g., absolutist thinking), and selective attention to negatives.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of OCD?

Answer 6

Behavioural: Compulsions (repetitive and reduce anxiety), avoidance.

Emotional: Anxiety, depression, guilt, and disgust.

Cognitive: Obsessive thoughts, coping strategies, awareness of irrationality.

Question 7

Strength of biological explanation for OCD?

Answer 7

Evidence: 80% of OCD sufferers experience recurring intrusive thoughts.

Explanation: Suggests cognitive component, supporting treatment via CBT and SSRIs.

Link: Has improved quality of life through effective treatments.

Question 8

Limitation of biological explanation for OCD?

Answer 8

Point: May ignore environmental factors.

Evidence: Some OCD sufferers improve with exposure therapy without medication.

Explanation: Suggests learning factors are also involved.

Link: A purely biological approach may be too reductionist.

Question 9

Strength of cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 9

Point: Explains symptoms like poor concentration and absolutist thinking.

Evidence: Depressed people focus on negative interpretations and recall unhappy memories.

Explanation: Supports Beck’s cognitive theory and CBT.

Link: Gives strong therapeutic value to cognitive approaches.

Question 10

Limitation of cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 10

Point: Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression.

Evidence: Emotions like deep anger and physical symptoms (e.g. insomnia) aren’t addressed.

Explanation: Model doesn’t fully explain complexity.

Link: May need combining with other approaches.