Introduction to Mental Disorders

In this chapter, we are looking at how Psychologists describe three very different mental health conditions: Phobias, Depression, and OCD. To keep things organised, we always look at three specific types of characteristics for each disorder: Behavioural (how people act), Emotional (how people feel), and Cognitive (how people think). Understanding these "BEC" categories is the secret to scoring high marks in this section!

Note: This chapter focuses only on identifying the characteristics. How these disorders are caused and treated is covered in later chapters of the Clinical Psychology section.

1. Characteristics of Phobias

A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation. It is more than just being "scared" of spiders; it is a clinical condition that interferes with daily life.

Behavioural Characteristics (Actions)

How does someone act when they encounter their phobia?

  • Panic: This involves crying, screaming, or running away. In children, it might look like a "tantrum" (freezing or clinging to a parent).
  • Avoidance: People put in a lot of effort to stay away from the thing they fear. For example, someone with a fear of heights might refuse to take a job in a tall building.
  • Endurance: Sometimes the person stays in the presence of the stimulus but experiences high levels of anxiety. For example, someone with a fear of flying might stay in their seat but remain frozen in terror for the whole flight.

Emotional Characteristics (Feelings)

What is the internal feeling?

  • Anxiety: An unpleasant state of high arousal. It prevents the person from relaxing and makes it hard to experience any positive emotion.
  • Fear: The immediate and extremely intense response when we encounter or think about the phobic stimulus.
  • Unreasonableness: The emotional response is "out of proportion" to the actual danger. For example, being terrified of a tiny, harmless spider.

Cognitive Characteristics (Thoughts)

How is the person processing information?

  • Selective Attention: If the person can see the phobic stimulus, they cannot look away. They stay focused on it to react quickly if it moves.
  • Irrational Beliefs: These are thoughts that don't make sense to others, like thinking "If I touch that social media icon, I will lose all my friends."
  • Cognitive Distortions: The person's perception of the stimulus is distorted. For example, an arachnophobe may see a spider as much larger or more "aggressive" than it actually is.

Quick Tip: Remember A-A-C for Cognitive characteristics: Attention, Absurd beliefs, and Cognitive distortions!


2. Characteristics of Depression

Depression is a mood disorder. While everyone feels "down" sometimes, clinical depression is persistent and affects a person's ability to function.

Behavioural Characteristics (Actions)

  • Activity Levels: Most people experience lethargy (low energy), making them withdraw from work and social life. In some cases, people experience the opposite: psychomotor agitation (being unable to relax and pacing around).
  • Disruption to Sleep and Eating: This can go both ways. Some people experience insomnia (can't sleep), while others experience hypersomnia (sleeping all the time). Similarly, appetite may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss.
  • Aggression and Self-harm: People may become irritable or physically aggressive towards themselves or others.

Emotional Characteristics (Feelings)

  • Lowered Mood: Feeling "sad," "empty," or "worthless." This is more intense than daily sadness.
  • Anger: This can be directed at others or turned inwards on the self.
  • Lowered Self-esteem: Users may experience self-loathing or even a sense of hating themselves.

Cognitive Characteristics (Thoughts)

  • Poor Concentration: The person finds it hard to stick to a task or make simple decisions.
  • Dwelling on the Negative: They pay more attention to the bad things in a situation and ignore the good. They may also have a pessimistic "slant" on memories.
  • Absolutist Thinking: Also known as "black-and-white thinking." If something isn't perfect, they see it as a total disaster.

Did you know? Psychologists often use the term comorbidity when a person has two conditions at once. Many people with depression also suffer from anxiety!


3. Characteristics of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

OCD is characterized by two things: Obsessions (repetitive thoughts) and Compulsions (repetitive behaviours).

Behavioural Characteristics (Actions)

  • Compulsions are Repetitive: People feel they must repeat a behaviour, such as hand-washing, counting, or tidying.
  • Compulsions Reduce Anxiety: Most compulsions are performed to manage the anxiety created by obsessions. For example, excessive hand-washing is a response to a fear of germs.
  • Avoidance: People with OCD try to stay away from situations that trigger their anxiety. For example, someone who fears germs might avoid using public toilets.

Emotional Characteristics (Feelings)

  • Anxiety and Distress: Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, leading to extreme anxiety.
  • Accompanying Depression: The anxiety is often accompanied by a low mood and loss of enjoyment in activities.
  • Guilt and Disgust: People may feel irrational guilt over minor things or disgust towards themselves or something like dirt.

Cognitive Characteristics (Thoughts)

  • Obsessions: These are recurrent, intrusive thoughts. For example, a constant worry that the front door is unlocked.
  • Cognitive Strategies to Cope: People may use mental "tricks" to manage anxiety, like praying or meditating. This can help them feel better but can distract them from daily tasks.
  • Insight into Excessive Anxiety: This is a key feature. People with OCD know their obsessions and compulsions are irrational. If they believed their thoughts were real, it would be a different disorder. However, they still experience hyper-vigilance (always looking for potential threats).

Summary Table: The "BEC" Model

If you're ever stuck in an exam, use this mental checklist to ensure you cover everything needed for \( 6 \) or \( 8 \) mark "outline" questions.

Phobias:
- Behavioural: Panic, Avoidance, Endurance.
- Emotional: Anxiety, Fear.
- Cognitive: Selective Attention, Irrational Beliefs.

Depression:
- Behavioural: Lethargy/Agitation, Sleep/Eating disruption.
- Emotional: Lowered mood, Lowered self-esteem.
- Cognitive: Poor concentration, Absolutist thinking.

OCD:
- Behavioural: Compulsions (repetitive/reduce anxiety), Avoidance.
- Emotional: Anxiety, Guilt, Disgust.
- Cognitive: Obsessions, Cognitive coping strategies, Insight.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing up Obsessions and Compulsions: Remember, Obsessions are Only in the mind (Cognitive). Compulsions are Carried out (Behavioural).

2. Being too vague: Don't just say someone with depression is "sad." Use the technical term lowered mood or lowered self-esteem.

3. Forgetting the "Cognitive" part: Students often focus on the feelings and actions but forget the thoughts. Make sure to mention irrational beliefs for phobias and absolutist thinking for depression.


Ready for the next step? Check out the "Behavioural approach to explaining phobias" to see how these characteristics are formed!