Psychopathology

Question 1

What are the three main characteristics to know about phobias?

Answer 1

Behavioural, Emotional, Cognitive

These characteristics describe how individuals with phobias behave, feel, and process information.

Question 2

Define phobia.

Answer 2

A disorder characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or a group of stimuli.

The anxiety interferes with normal living.

Question 3

What is the behavioural characteristic of phobias?

Answer 3

How we behave, act or respond.

This includes observable actions and reactions to phobic stimuli.

Question 4

What is the emotional characteristic of phobias?

Answer 4

How we feel, what we experience.

This involves the feelings of fear and anxiety related to phobic stimuli.

Question 5

What is the cognitive characteristic of phobias?

Answer 5

How we process information.

This affects language, thoughts, memory, perception, etc.

Question 6

List the top three phobias in the nation’s top ten phobias.

Answer 6

• Arachnophobia - spiders
• Social phobia - social or public situations
• Aerophobia - flying

These are the most common phobias reported.

Question 7

What is Arachnophobia?

Answer 7

Fear of spiders.

It is the most common specific phobia.

Question 8

What is Social phobia?

Answer 8

Fear of social or public situations.

This can lead to significant anxiety in social interactions.

Question 9

What is Aerophobia?

Answer 9

Fear of flying.

This phobia can severely limit travel and experiences.

Question 10

What is Agoraphobia?

Answer 10

Fear of open or public spaces.

This can lead individuals to avoid leaving their homes.

Question 11

What is Claustrophobia?

Answer 11

Fear of enclosed spaces.

This can cause panic in situations like elevators or small rooms.

Question 12

What is Emetophobia?

Answer 12

Fear of vomiting.

This phobia can lead to avoidance of certain foods and situations.

Question 13

What is Acrophobia?

Answer 13

Fear of heights.

This can cause significant distress when in high places.

Question 14

What is Cancerphobia?

Answer 14

Fear of developing cancer.

This can lead to excessive health anxiety.

Question 15

What is Brontophobia?

Answer 15

Fear of thunderstorms.

This can cause individuals to panic during stormy weather.

Question 16

What is Necrophobia?

Answer 16

Fear of death (your own and others’).

This phobia can severely impact one’s ability to cope with loss.

Question 17

What are the three categories of phobias according to the DSM-V?

Answer 17

• Agoraphobia
• Social phobias
• Specific phobias

Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces, social phobias involve fear of interacting with others, and specific phobias relate to fear of specific objects, animals, or places.

Question 18

Define agoraphobia.

Answer 18

The fear of open spaces.

Agoraphobia can significantly impact a person’s ability to engage in normal activities.

Question 19

Define social phobias.

Answer 19

The fear of interacting and performing in front of people.

Social phobias can lead to avoidance of social situations.

Question 20

Define specific phobias.

Answer 20

The fear of specific objects, animals, or places.

Specific phobias can include fears such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces).

Question 21

What are the three emotional responses associated with phobias?

Answer 21

• Emotional (Feelings)
• Behavioral (Actions)
• Cognitive (Thoughts)

These responses encompass how individuals feel, act, and think in relation to their phobias.

Question 22

What is the typical behavioral response to phobia?

Answer 22

Crying, screaming, avoidance.

Behavioral responses can vary significantly between individuals.

Question 23

What is the psychological state characterized by high arousal in phobics?

Answer 23

Anxiety.

Anxiety in phobics can lead to heightened states of fear and distress.

Question 24

What is panic in the context of phobias?

Answer 24

A sudden overwhelming fear or anxiety.

Panic can lead to physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing.

Question 25

True or False: Selective attention in phobics makes it easy to look away from the phobic stimulus.

Answer 25

False. ## Footnote Selective attention makes it difficult for sufferers to divert their focus from the stimulus.

Question 26

What is avoidance in relation to phobias?

Answer 26

The tendency to avoid contact with the phobic stimulus. ## Footnote Avoidance can interfere with normal routines and relationships.

Question 27

What are irrational beliefs in the context of phobias?

Answer 27

Unreasonable thoughts that resist rational arguments. ## Footnote For example, a person with a fear of flying may not be comforted by facts about flight safety.

Question 28

What is endurance in the context of phobias?

Answer 28

Remaining in the presence of the phobic stimulus despite high anxiety levels. ## Footnote This contrasts with avoidance and can lead to prolonged distress.

Question 29

What are cognitive distortions in phobics?

Answer 29

Distorted perceptions of the phobic stimulus. ## Footnote For instance, an omphalophobic may perceive belly buttons as ugly or disgusting.

Question 30

Fill in the blank: A phobic's perception of the stimulus may be _______.

Answer 30

distorted. ## Footnote This distortion can exacerbate the fear response.

Question 31

What emotional state is often difficult for someone with a phobia to experience?

Answer 31

Positive emotions. ## Footnote The high levels of anxiety associated with phobias can block positive emotional experiences.

Question 32

What is depression?

Answer 32

A mood disorder characterized by sadness and/or lack of interest in usual activities. ## Footnote Further characteristics include irrational negative thoughts, raised or lowered activity levels, and difficulties with concentration, sleep, and eating.

Question 33

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 33

Change in activity levels, disruption of sleep and eating behaviour, aggression and self-harm. ## Footnote Most depressed patients experience either reduced or increased activity levels, significant changes in sleep patterns, and alterations in appetite.

Question 34

What emotional characteristics are associated with depression?

Answer 34

Lowered mood, anger, feelings of worthlessness. ## Footnote This includes sadness, loss of interest in normal activities, anger directed towards others or oneself, and feelings of hopelessness.

Question 35

What cognitive characteristics are linked to depression?

Answer 35

Attending to negative thoughts, lowered self-esteem, absolutist thinking, poor concentration. ## Footnote Sufferers tend to focus on negative aspects of situations, recall unhappy events, experience feelings of worthlessness, engage in black-and-white thinking, and struggle with decision-making.

Question 36

Fill in the blank: A common behavioural change in depressed individuals is a shift in _______.

Answer 36

activity levels

Question 37

True or False: Depression can lead to increased appetite in some individuals.

Answer 37

True

Question 38

Fill in the blank: Depressed individuals often experience _______ self-esteem.

Answer 38

lowered

Question 39

What type of thinking is characterized by believing everything is either really good or really bad?

Answer 39

Absolutist thinking ## Footnote Also known as 'black and white thinking.'

Question 40

What emotional response may arise from feelings of being hurt in depression?

Answer 40

Anger

Question 41

Which cognitive characteristic involves a bias towards recalling unhappy events?

Answer 41

Attending to negative thoughts

Question 42

What is a potential outcome of poor concentration in depressed individuals?

Answer 42

Difficulty making straightforward decisions

Question 43

Fill in the blank: Depression may cause individuals to engage in _______ or physical aggression.

Answer 43

self-harm

Question 44

What are the two extremes of sleep behaviour in depressed individuals?

Answer 44

Sleeping much more or experiencing insomnia

Question 45

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Answer 45

An anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (persistent thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that are performed to reduce anxiety.

Question 46

What are the behavioral characteristics of OCD?

Answer 46

Compulsions are performed to reduce anxiety created by obsessions. They are repetitive and unconcealed, e.g., hand washing.

Question 47

What emotional characteristics are associated with OCD?

Answer 47

Anxiety, worry, distress, feelings of embarrassment and shame.

Question 48

What cognitive characteristics are present in individuals with OCD?

Answer 48

Recurrent intrusive thoughts, e.g., 'germs are everywhere.'

Question 49

What does avoidance mean in the context of OCD?

Answer 49

Keeping away from situations that trigger OCD/anxiety.

Question 50

What negative emotions are often involved in OCD?

Answer 50

Guilt and disgust, which may be directed at something external like dirt or at the individual.

Question 51

What insight do individuals with OCD have about their condition?

Answer 51

They recognize that their obsessional thoughts or impulses are a product of their own mind but feel they cannot control them.

Question 52

What is hyper vigilance in the context of OCD?

Answer 52

Maintaining constant alertness and keeping attention focused on potential hazards.

Question 53

How is OCD often related to depression?

Answer 53

OCD is often accompanied by depression, characterized by low mood and a lack of enjoyment.

Question 54

What is the effect of compulsive behavior on anxiety in OCD?

Answer 54

Compulsive behavior only brings temporary relief from anxiety.

Question 55

What are the subtypes of OCD based on obsessions and compulsions?

Answer 55

* Contamination obsessions with cleaning compulsions * Hoarding * Symmetry obsessions with ordering compulsions * Obsessions without visible compulsions * Harm obsessions with checking compulsions