Mental Disorders – OCD, Phobias and Depression
OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
Anxiety disorder
Two main components:
- Obsessions (persistent thoughts)
- Compulsions (repeated behaviours)
Compulsions are responses to obsession and the person believes the compulsions will reduce
anxiety.
Phobias
Anxiety disorder
Phobias are irrational fears that produce a conscious avoidance of the feared object or situation
that poses little to no danger.
Three categories:
- Specific: Phobia of an object or situation
- Social anxiety: Phobia of a social situation
- Agoraphobia: Phobia of being outside or in a public place
Depression
Mood disorder
The DSM-5 distinguishes between:
- Major depressive disorder (severe but short term)
- Persistent depressive disorder (reoccurring)
An individual may feel sad, lack interest in usual activities, have irrational negative thoughts
and difficulties sleeping, eating and concentrating.
Three characteristics of mental disorders
- Emotional: How the disorder may affect your mood / feelings
- Behavioural: How the disorder may affect your behaviour / how you act
- Cognitive: How the disorder affects your cognitive functioning, for e.g., your thought
processes
OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
Anxiety disorder
Two main components:
- Obsessions (persistent thoughts)
- Compulsions (repeated behaviours)
Compulsions are responses to obsession and the person believes the compulsions will reduce
anxiety.
Phobias
Anxiety disorder
Phobias are irrational fears that produce a conscious avoidance of the feared object or situation
that poses little to no danger.
Three categories:
- Specific: Phobia of an object or situation
- Social anxiety: Phobia of a social situation
- Agoraphobia: Phobia of being outside or in a public place
Depression
Mood disorder
The DSM-5 distinguishes between:
- Major depressive disorder (severe but short term)
- Persistent depressive disorder (reoccurring)
An individual may feel sad, lack interest in usual activities, have irrational negative thoughts
and difficulties sleeping, eating and concentrating.
Three characteristics of mental disorders
- Emotional: How the disorder may affect your mood / feelings
- Behavioural: How the disorder may affect your behaviour / how you act
- Cognitive: How the disorder affects your cognitive functioning, for e.g., your thought
processes
