Characteristics of disorders

• Phobias

  EMOTIONAL

  • Anxiety – classified as an anxiety disorder – unpleasant state of high arousal

  • Emotional responses are unreasonable – out of proportion to the actual danger
• Phobias

  BEHAVIOURAL

  • Panic - including crying, screaming or running away

  • Avoidance – avoid coming into contact with phobia

  • Disruption of functioning – including working and social
• Phobias

  COGNITIVE

  • Irrational belief – e.g. phobia will kill them

  • Selective attention to phobic stimulus – hard to look away

  • Cognitive distortion – perception of stimulus may be distorted
• Depression

  EMOTIONAL

  • Lowered mood – sadness and feelings of emptiness

  • Lowered self esteem – sense of loathing and hatred

  • Anger – can be directed at self or others
• Depression

  BEHAVIOURAL

  • Activity levels – reduced energy levels, or psychomotor agitation (unable to relax)

  • Disruption to sleep and eating – reduced sleep (insomnia) or increased sleep (hypersomnia)

  • Aggression and self harm – may become verbally or physically
• Depression

  COGNITIVE

  • Dwelling on the negative – ignores positives

  • Absolutist thinking – black and white thinking ‘all bad’

  • Poor concentration – unable to focus on tasks and find it difficult to make decisions
• OCD

  EMOTIONAL

  • Anxiety and distress – obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening

  • Guilt and disgust – irrational guilt

  • Accompanying depression – low mood
• OCD

  BEHAVIOURAL

  • Compulsion – uncontrollable urges to perform behaviours, these are repetitive and reduce anxiety

  • Avoidance – avoid situations that can trigger anxiety

  • Hinder every day functioning
• OCD

  COGNITIVE

  • Obsessive thoughts – are recurrent and intrusive

  • Insight into anxiety – suffers are aware their obsessions and compulsions are not rational