mental disorders

• what is a phobia?

  an anxiety disorder, and is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation
• what % of the UK population have a clinical phobia?

  2.6%
• what is the main emotional characteristic of a phobia?


  its an excessive and unreasonable fear of a specific object or situation (e.g. spiders, flying,heights)
• What is an emotional characteristic accompanied with?


  anxiety and panic, which the individual recognises is disproportionate to the actual danger posed
• what characteristic does fear produce of avoiding the phobic stimulus

  the behavioural characterisitic
• what does the behavioural characteristic interfere with?


  the persons usual social and occupational functioning over an extended period of time. Some people may also 'freeze' or faint in the presence of the phobic stimulus
• what is a cognitive characteristic of phobia?


  irrational thinking about the phobic stimulus and resistance to rational argument about the actual danger it poses
• what type of disorder is depression?

  mood disorder
• what is the main emotional characteristic of depression?


  sadness and/or a loss of interest and pleasure in activities a person is normally interested in and takes pleasure from. Other negative emotional characteristics include feelings of:

  • dispair
  • low self-esteem
  • lack of control
  • inward directed anger
  • outward directed anger
• what are some examples of behavioural characteristics of depression?


  • difficulties in concentrating
  • decreased or increased activity patterns
  • excessive sleep or insomnia
  • increased or decreased appetite
• what are the main cognitive characteristics of depression?


  irrational negative thoughts about the self, the world in general, and the future
• what is OCD

  Obsessive compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder
• what are the 2 components of OCD?

  • recurrent, persistent and intrusive thoughts or impulses (obsessions)
  • repetitive behaviours (compulsions)
• what are the main cognitive characteristics of OCD?

  • thoughts & impulses
  • these are recognised by sufferers as being excessive or unreasonable
• what is the main emotional characteristic of OCD?

  • they believe they have no control over these thoughts or impulses, so they experience anxiety
  • sufferers also experience embarrassment and shame about their obsessions and compulsions
• what is the main behavioural characteristic of OCD?

  • repetitive behaviour
  • it may be performed overtly (e.g. handwashing) or covertly (e.g. counting)
  • Sometimes, though, compulsive behaviour is not a response to obsessional thoughts, and people may compulsively avoid certain stimuli
• what is an example of a compulsive way of dealing with anxiety?

  a person who is obsessed by a fear of being contaminated by germs may develop compulsive handwashing behaviour as a way of reducing anxiety