The BEC characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD

• How many people out of a 100 have phobias?

  3
• How many people out of a 100 have depression?

  3
• How many people out of a 100 have OCD

  1/2
• What 2 diagnostic manuals do psychiatrists use to hep identify those who require intervention?

  DSM V and ICD 10
• What is a phobia?

  A type of anxiety disorder, defined by a persistent fear of an object or situation.
• What is a phobia a result of?

  A rapid onset of fear and is present for more than 6 months.
• What does the affected person do?

  Go great lengths to avoid the situation.
• What happens if the phobia can't be avoided?

  They will have significant distress.
• What are the 3 characteristics phobias are put into?

  - Behavioural

  - Emotional

  - Cognitive
• What does behavioural mean?


  How we act
• What is the description of behavioural? (Avoidance)

  - The person tries to avoid it.

  - This may interfere with everyday life, e.g., limiting family, social and profession lives.
• What is an example of behavioural? (Avoidance)


  A person with a specific phobia may turn down a job opportunity because it involved meeting on a high floor.
• What is an example of behavioural? (Freeze/faint)


  A person faints when they see blood
• What is the description of behavioural? (Freeze/faint)

  - Part of the stress response.

  - A person may freeze which is an adaptive response.
• What does emotional mean?

  How we feel
• What is the description of emotional? (Fear)

  - Persistent and unreasonable.

  - Out of proportion to the actual danger posed.
• What is an example of emotional? (Fear)


  A person moves from Australia to Ireland due to their fear of snakes.
• What is the description of emotional? (Anxiety/panic)

  - Overwhelmed, accompanied by increased physiological arousal

  - Rapid decrease in arousal caused dizziness/faining.
• What is an example of emotional? (Anxiety/panic)


  A person feels dizzy when they try to leave their house.
• What does cognitive mean?

  How we think
• What is the description of cognitive? (Irrational thinking)


  Resisting rational arguments about their phobia.
• What is an example of cognitive? (Irrational thinking)

  A person isn't swayed by the idea that flying is the safest form of transport
• What is the description of cognitive? (Recognising the phobia is irrational)

  Some can understand that their fear is out of proportion
• What is an example of cognitive? (Recognising the phobia is irrational)


  A person recognises that they are bigger than a spider but they still will not enter a room with a spider in it.
• What is depression?


  A mood disorder characterised by persistent low mood and loss of interest/enjoyment in activities the person previously found pleasurable.
• What 4 things do the DSM-V say is required for a diagnosis of clinical depression?

  - Loss of interest in daily activities for 2+ weeks

  - Mood changes

  - Impaired function

  - Specific systems
• What 5 systems are present in depression every day?

  - Loss of energy

  - Guilt

  - Decreased interest

  - Change in sleep

  - Suicidality
• What is the description of behavioural? (depression)

  - Neglect of personal appearance

  - Loss/gain of appetite

  - Change in sleep patterns

  - Loss of energy

  - Withdrawal from others
• What is the example of behavioural? (depression)

  A person experiences a reduction in energy and feels constantly tired. They sleep more but feel exhausted.
• What is the description of emotional? (depression)

  - Intense sadness

  - Apathy

  - Feelings of worthlessness

  - Anger
• What is the example of emotional? (depression)


  A person loses all interest in things that used to make them happy.
• What is the description of cognitive? (depression)

  - Negative thoughts

  - Lack of concentration

  - Low self-esteem

  - Poor memory

  - Low confidence
• What is the example of cognitive? (depression)


  A person feels like they can't maintain concentration at work. When their boss asks them to do a task they take longer than usual, which makes them feel stupid. This thought recurs often.
• What 2 main components does OCD have?

  Obsessions and compulsions
• What are obsessions?


  reoccurring and persistent thoughts.
• What are compulsions?


  Repetitive behaviours.
• What are 3 examples of types of OCs?

  - Obsessional cleanliness

  - Compulsive rituals

  - Obsessional doubts
• What is the description of behavioural? (OCD)

  Compulsions:

  - Repetitive

  - reduce anxiety

  - Involves rigidly applied rules
• What is the example of behavioural? (OCD)

  A person engages in repetitive hand washing to reduce an excessive fear of germs.
• What is the description of emotional? (OCD)

  - Anxiety/distress

  - Awareness that these thoughts are irrational causes more distress

  - Depression