characteristics of disorders

behavioural characteristics of phobias:

PANIC- in response to the presence of the phobic stimulus (crying, screaming or running away)

AVOIDNACE - effort to prevent coming into contact with phobic stimulus (hard to go about daily life - interfere with work, education and social life)

ENDURANCE - chooses to remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus

emotional characteristics of phobias

ANXIETY - ‘anxiety disorders‘ unpleasant state of high arousal, prevents relaxation, difficult to experience any positive emotion (long term )

FEAR - immediate and extremely unpleasant response when we encounter/think of phobic stimulus (More intense but experienced for shorter periods THAN anxiety)

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE IS UNREASONABLE - anxiety/fear MUCH GREATER than ‘normal‘ /disproportionate to any THREAT posed

cognitive characteristics of phobias

SELECTIVE ATTENTION TO THE PHOBIC STIMULUS - have to look away from phobic stimulus, gives best chance of reacting quickly to a threat (not useful if fear is IRRATIONAL)

IRRATIONAL BELIEFS- hold unfounded thoughts in relation to phobic stimuli (don’t have any basis in reality) increase pressure on person to perform well in social situations

COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS- perceptions inaccurate and unrealistic

behavioural characteristics of depression

ACTIVITY LEVELS- reduced levels of energy (lethargic). knock-on effect: withdraw from work, education & social life

opposite effect: PSYCHOMOTOR AGITATION, struggle to relax, end up pacing up & down

DISRUPTION TO SLEEP & EATING BEHAVIOUR- reduced sleep (insomnia), premature waking, increased need for sleep (hypersomnia)

appetite increase/decrease - weight gain/loss

AGGRESSION & SELF HARM- irritable, verbally or physically aggressive (ending relationship/job)

physical aggression directed at self (cutting/ suicide attempts)

emotional characteristics of depression

LOWERED MOOD- feeling sad, describing self as ‘worthless‘ & ‘empty‘

ANGER- sometimes extreme anger, directed at self or others. can lead to aggressive or self-harming behaviour

LOWERED SELF ESTEEM- like themselves less than usual, quite extreme - self-loathing (hating themselves)

self esteem definition

emotional experience of how much we like ourselves

cognitive characteristics of depression:

POOR CONCENTRATION- unable to stick with a task as they usually would, hard to make decisions that they would normally find straightforward- interfere with work

ATTENDING TO & DWELLING ON THE NEGATIVE- ignore positives, glass ‘half-empty‘. bias against recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones

ABSOLUTIST THINKING- ‘black & white thinking‘ when situation unfortunate tend to see it as absolute disaster

behavioral characteristics of OCD:

COMPULSIONS ARE REPETITIVE- compelled to repeat behaviour (handwashing, counting, praying & tidying/ordering groups of objects)

COMPULSIONS REDUCE ANXIETY- attempt to manage anxiety produced by obsessions (e.g handwashing - obsessive fear of germs)

10% of ppl with OCD show compulsive behaviour without obsessions

AVOIDANCE- attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it (avoid coming into contact with germs)may lead to avoidance of ordinary situations

emotional characteristics of OCD:

ANXIETY & DISTRESS - accompany both obsessions and compulsions. obsessive thoughts unpleasant/ frightening. overwhelming anxiety- created by urge to repeat behaviour

ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSION - by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities , compulsive behaviour bring SOME relief from anxiety (temporary)

GUILT & DISGUST - (irrational) over minor moral issues directed against something external (dirt/self)

cognitive characteristics of OCD

OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS- 90% of ppl with OCD major cognitive features: obsessive thoughts (recur over & over again) unpleasant

COGNITIVE COPING STRATEGIES- adopt cognitive coping strategies to deal with obsession (praying/ meditating) - help manage anxiety BUT may appear abnormal to others/distract them from everyday tasks

INSIGHT INTO EXCESSIVE ANXIETY- aware obsessions/compulsions IRRATIONAL. experience catastrophic thoughts about worst-case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified

hypervigilant (maintain constant alertness/keep attention focused on potential hazards)