4.2.4 - Evidence-based interventions

Question 1

Evidence-based interventions

Answer 1

treatments that have been found effective on the basis of valid and reliable research studies
* Biological, psychological, social
* Treatments developed and/or tested in this way are likely to be effective with different people with various types of phobias if used appropriately

Question 2

Biological interventions

Answer 2

can be used to treat specific phobia including GABA agonists and breathing restraining

Question 3

BI: GABA Agonists

Answer 3

 Medication: anti-anxiety drugs that mimic GABA’s inhibitory effects have been successful in managing phobic anxiety
Two types of GABA agonists can be used to treat specific phobia:
 Benzodiazepines: a type of medication that depresses central nervous system activity and is often used as a short-acting anti-anxiety medication
* Depressant medication (sedative) calming
* Useful for treating symptoms but do not cure a specific phobia
* Generally safe to take but can have side effects
o Reduce alertness, coordination, reaction time
* Prescribed for short-term use because they can become addictive
 Agonists: a type of drug that imitates neurotransmitters and works to initiate a neural response (excitatory or inhibitory) when it binds to the receptor sites of a neuron

Question 4

BI: Breathing Restraining

Answer 4

a method used to teach breathing control techniques that may reduce physiological arousal, therefore breathing restraining can be used by an individual when they are experiencing anxiety in the presence of their phobic stimulus

Question 5

BI: Breathing restraining steps

Answer 5

1. A psychologist or doctor will teach a person with a specific phobia how to consciously control their breathing
   a. Slow and deep inhalations
   b. Counting slowly when breathing in and when breathing out
   c. Breathing slowly in through the nose and focusing on breathing out slowly from the diaphragm
2. Learner applies the breathing techniques learnt in step 1 when in the presence of a phobic stimulus, decreasing the dominance of the sympathetic nervous system and reducing anxiety

Question 6

Psychological Interventions

Answer 6

can be used to treat specific phobias including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and systematic desensitation

Question 7

PI: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Answer 7

a form of psychotherapy that encourages individuals to substitute dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours with more adaptive ones, involving a cognitive and behavioural components

Question 8

CBT Cognitive components

Answer 8

• Identifying negative thoughts and feelings (cognitions) about the issue
• Replacing these negative thoughts and feelings with more positive ones

Question 9

CBT Behavioural components

Answer 9

• Identifying negative behaviours relating to the issue
• Developing and maintaining more positive behaviours relating to the issue

Question 10

PI: Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 10

a therapy technique used to overcome phobia involving a patient being exposed incrementally to increasingly anxiety-inducing stimuli, combined with the use of relaxation techniques

Question 11

Systematic desensitation steps

Answer 11

1. Learning a relaxation technique
   a. Breathing restraining, muscle relaxation or visual imagery
2. Forming a fear hierarchy
   a. Breaking down and organising the phobic stimulus into a list of easiest to most difficult situations to confront
3. Gradual exposure to the fear stimulus
   a. Progressive exposure to each of the fear producing situations

Question 12

Social Interventions

Answer 12

that can be used to treat specific phobia include psychoeducation (challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts and not encouraging avoidance behaviours)

Question 13

SI: Psychoeducation

Answer 13

involves teaching families and supporters of individuals with mental health disorders how to better understand, deal with and treat their disorder, therefore used to educate families and supporters of individuals with a specific phobia

Question 14

SI: Psychoeducation - Challenging Unrealistic or Anxious Thoughts

Answer 14

 A person with a phobia often has unrealistic and anxious thoughts about their phobic stimulus
o Extreme anxiety, catastrophic thinking, memory bias

Question 15

SI: Psychoeducation - Not Encouraging Avoidant Behaviours

Answer 15

• Phobias cannot be solved through avoidant behaviours
• Avoidant coping strategies may be useful for relieving less severe forms of stress, they do not provide long-term solutions for phobias
• Family and supporters are taught that they should not encourage avoidant behaviours, as they do not solve and only perpetuate the phobic anxiety