PSYC 235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Panic Attack, Specific Phobia, Exposure Therapy
20 Jan 2016
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Document Summary
Irrational fear or object or situation that interferes with individual"s ability to function. Blood-injury-injection phobia differs from all other phobias in that they experience drops in heart rate and bp with increased urge to faint, has strong genetic component. Caused by traumatic/vicarious experiences, panic attacks, false alarms, observing someone experiences extreme fear, or being told of some danger. Individuals who are extremely and painfully shy in social/performance- related situations. Fear of being called for a judged performance . Causes: biological, conditioning (panic attack, social trauma), modelling. May be predisposed to fear angry, critical, or rejecting faces. Some infants predisposed to agitation and hyper-arousal when faced with new stimuli, or increased inhibition. Treatment: antidepressants (ssris, paxil), cbt (rehearsal, role-play) Evidence suggests that the exposure more important than cognitive. Intensive cognitive therapy and social support may be employed component. Disorders that develop after relatively stressful life event.
