Clinical characteristics

• specific phobias

  where a person fears a specific object in the environment

  can be further divided into 4 categories:

  • animal
  • injury
  • situational
  • natural
• social phobias


  feelings of anxiety in social situations eg giving a speech

  can be divided into 3 more categories:

  • performance
  • interaction
  • generalised
• Agoraphobia


  fear of public spaces

  can be caused by simple or social phobias

  behavioural characteristics:

  • avoidance
  • panic

  emotional characteristics:

  • excessive and unreasonable fear, anxiety and panic

  cognitive characteristics:

  • selective attention
  • irrational beliefs
• Depression


  can be divided into two main categories:

  • unipolar
  • bipolar

  behavioural characteristics:

  • reduction in energy
  • disrupted sleep pattern - insomnia
  • changes in appetite

  emotional characteristics:

  • depressed mood
  • worthlessness
  • lack of interest

  cognitive characteristics:

  • diminished ability to concentrate
  • focus on the negative
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder


  classified as an anxiety disorder and has two main components:

  • obsessions - recurring and persistent thoughts
  • compulsions - repetitive behaviour

  behavioural characteristics:

  • repetitive in nature
  • compulsions used to reduce anxiety

  emotional characteristics:

  • anxiety
  • depression

  cognitive characteristics:

  • obsessive thoughts
  • adopt cognitive strategies