Psychopathology Key Terms
ABC Model
Ellis's explanation for how irrational thoughts affect behaviour A= activating event,
B= beliefs, C= consequences
Agoraphobia
Irrational fear of being outside or in a public place
Avoidance
The act of staying away from something (e.g. the phobic object or situation)
Basal ganglia
Region of the brain involved in the coordination of movement that has been linked to OCD
Benzodiazepines
Anti-anxiety drugs used to treat OCD as they have a quietening effect on the brain and
reduce anxiety causes by obsessive thoughts
Bipolar depression
Condition where a person has periods of elevated mood (mania) as well as periods of
depression
Catastrophising
Cognitive error where you exaggerate a minor setback and turn it into a major disaster
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a commonly used therapy which involves challenging and
replacing irrational thoughts
Cognitive Bias
Error in thinking caused by simplified information processing
Compulsion
An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way
COMT gene
Gene which has a variation which results in higher levels of dopamine and this variation is
more common in patients with OCD
Counter-conditioning
Learning a new response to the phobic object/situation e.g. replacing fear with relaxation
Cultural relativism
The idea that cultural norms and values are culture specific and no-one culture is superior to
another culture
ABC Model
Ellis's explanation for how irrational thoughts affect behaviour A= activating event,
B= beliefs, C= consequences
Agoraphobia
Irrational fear of being outside or in a public place
Avoidance
The act of staying away from something (e.g. the phobic object or situation)
Basal ganglia
Region of the brain involved in the coordination of movement that has been linked to OCD
Benzodiazepines
Anti-anxiety drugs used to treat OCD as they have a quietening effect on the brain and
reduce anxiety causes by obsessive thoughts
Bipolar depression
Condition where a person has periods of elevated mood (mania) as well as periods of
depression
Catastrophising
Cognitive error where you exaggerate a minor setback and turn it into a major disaster
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a commonly used therapy which involves challenging and
replacing irrational thoughts
Cognitive Bias
Error in thinking caused by simplified information processing
Compulsion
An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way
COMT gene
Gene which has a variation which results in higher levels of dopamine and this variation is
more common in patients with OCD
Counter-conditioning
Learning a new response to the phobic object/situation e.g. replacing fear with relaxation
Cultural relativism
The idea that cultural norms and values are culture specific and no-one culture is superior to
another culture
