Characteristics of OCD, Phobias and Depression

• Behavioural characteristics: How do you behave?

  Cognitive characteristics: What do you think?

  Emotional characteristics: How do you feel?
• OCD – a condition characterised by obsessions and compulsive behaviour
• DEPRESSION – persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest in activities that one use to enjoy
• PHOBIA – an irrational fear of an object, place or situation that causes a constant avoidance of said stimulus
• Behavioural characteristics: PHOBIA

  -avoidance

  -freezing or fainting

  -flight or fight

  -endurance
• Cognitive characteristics: PHOBIA

  -irrational belief

  -selective attention to the phobic stimulus

  -cognitive distortion
• Emotional characteristics: PHOBIA

  -feelings of anxiety

  -persistent fear 
• Behavioural characteristics: OCD

  -compulsions, ritualistic actions

  -avoidance
• Cognitive characteristics: OCD

  -obsessive thoughts

  -insight into excessive anxiety
• Emotional characteristics: OCD

  -anxiety and distress

  -accompanying depression

  -guilt and disgust
• Behavioural characteristics: DEPRESSION

  -low activity levels and being lethargic

  -disruption to sleeping and eating patterns

  -aggression and self harm
• Cognitive characteristics: DEPRESSION

  -poor concentration

  -attending to and dwelling on negative thoughts and aspects of situations

  -absolutist thinking e.g., when a situation is unfortunate, they see it as an absolute disasters
• Emotional characteristics: DEPRESSION

  -lowered mood

  -anger

  -lowered self-esteem