characteristics

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)


  An anxiety disorder characterised by experiencing persistent and intrusive thoughts which occur as obsessions, compulsions or sometimes both
• Characteristics of OCD

  • Obsessions: Cognitive internal intrusive thoughts
  • Compulsions: Behavioural external repetitive behaviours
• Obsessions


  Cognitive internal intrusive thoughts, e.g. there are germs everywhere and they could harm me
• Compulsions


  Behavioural external repetitive behaviours, e.g. I need to wash my hands each time I touch something to avoid the germs and getting ill
• Disorders related to OCD


  • OCD
  • Excoriation: Compulsive skin-picking
  • Trichotillomania: Compulsive hair-pulling
• Symptoms of OCD


  • Behavioural characteristics
  • Emotional characteristics
  • Cognitive characteristics
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)


  An anxiety disorder characterised by experiencing persistent and intrusive thoughts which occur as obsessions, compulsions or sometimes both
• Characteristics of OCD


  • Obsessions: Cognitive internal intrusive thoughts
  • Compulsions: Behavioural external repetitive behaviours
• Obsessions


  Cognitive internal intrusive thoughts, e.g. there are germs everywhere and they could harm me
• Compulsions


  Behavioural external repetitive behaviours, e.g. I need to wash my hands each time I touch something to avoid the germs and getting ill
• Disorders related to OCD


  • OCD
  • Excoriation: Compulsive skin-picking
  • Trichotillomania: Compulsive hair-pulling
• Symptoms of OCD


  • Behavioural characteristics
  • Emotional characteristics
  • Cognitive characteristics
• Behavioural characteristicsof OCD


  • Compulsions: Repetitive and time-consuming, can stop the person from continuing their daily life
  • Compulsions reduce anxiety and the repetitive behaviour is often performed to reduce the anxiety
  • Avoidance: The person is likely to try and avoid situations that would cause them to show their compulsions
• Emotional characteristicsof OCD


  • Extreme anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Depression
• Cognitive characteristics of OCD


  • Obsessive thoughts: Thoughts that reoccur over and over again and are often intrusive
  • Obsessive actions: The person will often have to perform these obsessive actions to allow them to continue with their day
  • Excessive anxiety: The sufferer understands the thoughts and actions are irrational but cannot stop them
• Depression


  A mood disorder, where the suffering experiences low mood and low energy levels
• Characteristics of depressive disorders


  • Changes in mood
  • Loss of interest in activities that were once found to be pleasurable
• Categories of depressive disorders (DSM-5)


  • Major depressive disorder: Severe but often short-term depression
  • Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: Childhood tantrums
  • Persistent depressive disorder: Long-term, reoccurring depression, including sustained major depression
  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Disruption of mood before and/or during menstruation
• Symptoms of depression can be characterised by three areas


  • Behavioural characteristics
  • Emotional characteristics
  • Cognitive characteristics
• Behavioural characteristics


  • Shift in activity levels (increase or decrease)
  • Affected sleep (increase or decrease)
  • Affected appetite (increase or decrease)
  • Aggression and self-harm
• Emotional characteristics


  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Loss of interests
  • Lower self-esteem
• Cognitive characteristics


  • Negative views of the world
  • Irrational thoughts
  • Poor concentration
  • Negative expectations of themselves
• Make sure when discussing abnormalities, especially depression, you remain factual to the specification to ensure you get the marks and do not take personal experiences of those around you for your answers
• Depression is suffered by many in society, which can make it hard to distinguish between the characteristics described above and the symptoms you see in loved ones
• The characteristics of depression often come up as 1-mark or multiple-choice responses so make sure you are aware of the differences between emotional, cognitive, and behavioural characteristics as you may not have the chance to explain your answer
• Self-actualisation


  The highest level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs


  A theory of motivation that proposes a hierarchy of needs that must be satisfied in order, from basic physiological needs to self-actualisation
• The Nervous System


  Central and Peripheral
• Sensory, Relay & Motor Neurons

  The structure and function of
• The Process of Synaptic Transmission

  1. Neurotransmitter release

  2. Binding to receptors

  3. Postsynaptic response
• The Endocrine System


  Its function
• Components of the Endocrine System


  • Glands
  • Hormones
• Localisation of Function in the Brain

  Hemispheric Lateralisation
• Circadian, Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms

  Biological Rhythms
• Endogenous Pacemakers & Exogenous Zeitgebers

  The effect on biological rhythms
• Experimental Method


  A research method
• Observational Techniques


  A research method
• Self-report Techniques


  A research method
• Correlations


  A research method
• Content Analysis


  A research method