Abnormal Psych(Anxiety, Obsessive- Compulsive, and Related Disorders)

Fear 

Central nervous system’s physiological and emotional response to a serious threat to one’s well-being

Anxiety

Central nervous system’s physiological and emotional response to a vague sense of threat or danger

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 

Disorder marked by persistent and excessive feelings of anxiety and worry about numerous events and activities

What are the three things that one needs to have to be diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder?

1. For 6 months or more, a person experiences disproportionate, uncontrollable and ongoing anxiety and worry about multiple matters.

2. The symptoms include at least three of the following: edginess, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems.

3. Significant distress or impairment.

Sociocultural perspective

GAD is most likely to develop in people faced with dangerous, ongoing social conditions or highly threatening environments.

Treatments for GAD from the psychodynamic perspective

• Freudians focus less on fear and more on control of the id.

• Object relations therapists attempt to help patients identify and settle early relationship problems.

• Short-term psychodynamic therapy is more effective than longer treatments.

What was Carl Rodgers explanation of the humanistic perspective?

1. Lack of unconditional positive regard in childhood leads to conditions of worth (i.e., harsh self-standards).
2. Threatening self-judgments break through and cause anxiety, setting the stage for GAD to develop.

What is the Humanistic perspective

GAD arises when people stop looking at themselves honestly and acceptingly.

Client-centered therapy 

used to show unconditional positive regard for clients and empathize with them

Cognitive behavioral perspective

Problematic behaviors and dysfunctional thinking often cause psychological disorders.

Biological perspective 

GAD is caused chiefly by biological factors.

What are some of the biological explanations

Every day, fear reactions are tied to brain circuits. / Fear circuit hyperactivity may be tied to the development of GA

How do phobias differ from fear

It is a more intense and persistent fear

What are some of the things that need to be present to have a phobia

• Marked, persistent, and disproportionate fear of a particular object or situation; usually lasting at least 6 months

• Exposure to the object produces immediate fear

• Avoidance of the feared situation

• Significant distress or impairment

What causes a specific phobia

Once fears are acquired, individuals avoid the dreaded object or situation and permit fears to become entrenched.

What is a treatment option for phobias

Exposure treatment

How long do symptoms of socil anxiety need to be present before a person can be diagnosed 

lasting 6 months or more 

What is the cognitive-behavioral perspective of what causes a social anxiety disorder? 

• anticipation of social disasters and
  dread of social situations

• Tied to genetic predispositions, trait tendencies,
  biological abnormalities, traumatic childhood
  experiences, overprotective parent–child interactions

For social anxiety what is an example of Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Exposure therapy and systematic therapy discussions; role-play

What is a panic attack

Periodic, short bouts of panic that occur suddenly, reach a peak within minutes, and gradually pass

What biological factors contributes to
panic disorder?

Caused by a hyperactive panic circuit

What is cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorders

Seeks to correct people’s misinterpretations
of their bodily sensations.

What is an obsession

Persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses, or images that seem to invade a person’s consciousness

What is a compulsion

Repetitive and rigid behaviors or mental acts that people feel they must perform to prevent or reduce anxiety

What can be a treatment option for OCD 

Short-term psychodynamic therapies are more direct
and action-oriented

what is the Cognitive-behavioral perspective of OCD

Disorder grows from human tendencies to have unwanted, intrusive, unpleasant thoughts.

What is a biological treatment of OCD

Serotonin-enhancing antidepressants