Phobias, depression and OCD - Psychpathology

behabioural effects of phobias - panic

may involve a range of behaviours like crying, screaming or running away from the phobic stimulus

behavioural effects of phobias - avoidance

considerable effort to avoid coming into contact with the phobic stimulus. this can make it hard to go about everyday life, especially if the phobic stimulus is often seen, e.g. public places

emotional effects of phobias - anxiety and fear

fear is the immediate experience. fear leads to anxiety. responses are unreasonable - it is widely disproportionate to the threat posed

cognitive effects of phobias - selective attention to the phobic stimulus

the phobic find it hard to look away from the stimulus, ex. a fear of beards cannot concentrate with a bearded man in a room

cognitive effects of phobic stimulus - irrational beliefs

for example, social phobis may invovlve beliefs like 'if i blush i'll look weak'

behavioural effects of depression - activity levels

sufferers of depresseion have reduced levels of energy, making them lethargic. some cases can't get out of bed

behavioural effects of depression - eating and sleeping

sufferers may experience reduced sleep or an increase of. they may also have either an increased or decreased appetite

cognitive effects of depression - poor concentration

sufferers may find it hard to stick with a task as they usually would, or may find simple decision making hard

cognitive effects of depression - abslutist thinking

black and white thinking, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster

emotional effects of depression - lowered mood

morepronounced than the daily feelings of lethargy or sadness. sufferers often descrive themselves as worthless or empty

emotional effects of depression - anger

such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour

behavioural effects of OCD - compulsions

actions that are carried out repeatedly, e.g. handwashing. the behaviour is carried out in a ritualistic way to reduce anxiety

behavioural effects of OCD - avoidance

the OCD is managed by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, ex. sufferers who wash repeatedly to avoid germs

emotional effects of OCD - anxiety and distress

obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety that goes along can be overwhelming

emotional effects of OCD - guillt and disgust

irrational guilt, for example over a minor moral issue or disgust which is directed towards oneself or something external like dirt

cognitive effects of OCD - obsessive thoughts

about 90% of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts, ex. recurring untrusive thoughts about being contaminated

cognitive effects of OCD - insight into excessive anxiety

awareness that thoughts and behaviour are irrational. in spite of this suffererrs experience catastrophic thoughts and are hypervigilant, i.e 'over aware' of their obsession.