Characteristics of Phobias, Depression, OCD

• What is a phobia?

  An irrational fear to a situation or object
• Categories of phobias?

  Specific phobia - phobia of object/situation

  Social phobia - phobia of social situations

  Agoraphobia - phobia of being outside or in a public space
• Behavioural characteristicsof phobias

  Avoidance

  Endurance

  Panic
• Emotional characteristicsof phobias

  Anxiety

  Fear

  Emotional response is unreasonable
• Cognitive characteristicsof phobias

  Selective attention to phobic stimulus

  Irrational beliefs

  Cognitive distortions
• What is depression?

  A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels
• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  Disruption to sleep behaviour

  Disruption to eating behaviour

  Reduced activity levels

  Aggression and self harm
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  • Anger
  • Lowered mood
  • Lowered self-esteem
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  • Poor concentration
  • Attending to and dwelling on the negative
  • Absolutist thinking
• What is OCD?

  Anxiety disorder characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour; obsessions are cognitive and compulsions are behavioural
• Behavioural characteristics of OCD

  Compulsive behaviours are repetitive

  Compulsions reduce anxiety

  Avoidance
• Emotional characteristics of OCD

  Anxiety and distress

  Accompanying depression

  Guilt and disgust
• Cognitive characteristics of OCD

  Obsessive thoughts

  Irrational beliefs

  Insight to excessive anxiety