clinical characteristics of phobia

• there are several methods psychologists use to diagnose mental disorders:

  • DSM (used by US and in lots of research worldwide)
  • ICD (used by NHS)

  they include a list of symptoms which can be used as a tool for diagnosis

  classifications allow data to be collected about a disorder - this helps develop new treatments and medication
• types of phobias

  phobias are classified as an anxiety disorder

  • specific phobias
  • social phobias
  • agoraphobia
• specific phobias

  a fear of a specific object or situation eg:

  • animal type
  • natural environment type eg. heights
  • blood/injection/injury type
  • situation type eg. claustrophobia
• social phobias

  extreme concern about one's own behaviour and the reactions of others (includes performance phobia)
• agoraphobia

  ...with panic attacks - involves a great fear of open or public places
• why might some people find a diagnosis of a disorder useful? or harmful?

  allows to make sense of symptoms. explain what they are experiencing.

  but may overidentify with diagnosis that reinforces the problem
• what are the strengths/limitations of using two different methods of diagnosis?

  strengths:

  • detailed criteria = easy to identify conditions
  • research based = regular updates on psychiatric conditions
  • accessibility = easy for professors to access info online

  limitations:

  • cultural bias = ethnocentric
  • lead to labelling
  • overdiagnosing normal behaviour eg. grief, anxiety
• cognitive characteristics

  • the thought processes that occur
  • though often tend to be extremely irrational - may involve catastrophising
  • selective attention to the feared object - search for cobwebs in corners
  • a recognition that the fear is excessive

  1. not always present in children
  2. helps distinguish phobias from delusional mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia
• emotional characteristics

  • a marked and persistent fear of an object or situation - likely to be excessive and unreasonable
  • feelings of anxiety and panic - especially in social situations
  • emotions often tend to be out of proportion to the actual 'threat/danger' posed
• what might someone be thinking when they are faced with their fear

  • feeling trapped
  • self-doubt
  • over-awareness
  • 'must' or 'should' thoughts