Characteristics

• What is a Phobia?

  Intense, overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object place, situation, feeling or animal. They are more prominent than fears and may lead to an individual organising their life around their phobia.
• What percentage of the population experience a phobia?

  15-20% - its a very common anxiety disorder (irrational).
• How do you get diagnosed with a Phobia?

  The disorder must interfere with day-to-day functioning and last longer than 6 months.
• What are the 3 main types of Phobias?

  1. Specific Phobias
  2. Social Phobias
  3. Agoraphobia
• What are the emotional characteristics of Phobias?

  Persistent, excessive and unreasonable fear.

  • High levels of anxiety when anticipating the object.
  • Fear when presented with the object.
• What are the behavioural characteristics of Phobias?

  • Panic attacks, crying, screaming
  • Avoiding the phobic stimulus
  • Disrupted everyday functioning
• What are the cognitive characteristics of Phobias?

  Conscious awareness of exaggerated anxiety.

  • Paying selective attention to the phobic stimulus
  • Irrational beliefs or cognitive distortions
• What is Depression?


  A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depression OR clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and leave and can lead to a variety of emotional and psychical problems.
• What percentage of the population suffer from Depression?

  5% of adults.and is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
• How do you get diagnosed with Depression?

  The disorder must be interfering with day-to-day functioning.
• What are the emotional characteristics of Depression?

  • Persistent low mood - pronounced feelings of sadness
  • Anger - directed at self or others
  • Lowered self-esteem - feelings of worthlessness and emptiness
• What are the behavioural characteristics of Depression?

  Lack of interest in normal every day activities or social withdrawal

  • Insomnia, excessive desire to sleep
  • Aggression towards others or self harm
• What are the cognitive characteristics of Depression?

  • Poor concentration - difficulties attending to a task and / or problem making decisions
  • Cognitive biases - focus on negative aspects of a situation
  • Suicidal thoughts
• What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? (OCD)

  An anxiety disorder. The condition has 2 main parts: Obsessions (thoughts) and Compulsions (behaviours).
• What percentage of the population have OCD?

  Not as common as phobias or depressions, approximately 1.2% of the population have OCD.
• How do you get diagnosed with OCD?

  The disorder must be interfering with day-to-day functioning.
• What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

  • Anxiety and distress - may accompany both obsessions and compulsions
  • Low mood and depression
  • Feelings of guilt and disgust
• What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

  • Compulsions - repetitive behaviours (hand washing, counting, ordering)
  • Avoidance - situations that trigger anxiety e.g. individual with a germ obsession avoids emptying bins
• What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

  • Obsessive thoughts - they recur over and over again (worries about being contaminated by dirt)
  • Cognitive coping strategies
  • Insight into excessive anxiety i.e. understanding hat their obsessions and compulsions are irrational