behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

• a behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response such as anxiety
• SD involves drawing up hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations related to the phobia stimulus, teaching them to relax then exposing them to phobic situations
• work way though hierarchy to relax

Question 2

Relaxation

Answer 2

• therapist teachers the patient to relax as deeply as possible
• might involve breathing exercise/mental imagery techniques
• alternatively can use drugs such as valium

Question 3

The anxiety hierarchy

Answer 3

• put together by the patient and therapist
• this is a list of situations related to the phobic stimulus to provoke anxiety arranged in order of least to most frightening

Question 4

Exposure

Answer 4

• exposed to phobic stimulus whilst in a relaxed state
• this tales place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the hierarchy
• when the patient can stay relaxed in the presence of the lower levels of phobic stimulus they move up the hierarchy
• treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy

Question 5

Flooding

Answer 5

• 1 long session where they experience their phobia at its worst while at the same time practicing relaxation
• encourages patient to use their relaxation techniques until their anxiety disseapers

Question 6

Evaluation of sensitive desensitisation

Answer 6

• effect
• acceptable to patients
• not appropriate for all phobias
• symptom substitution

Question 7

Evaluation of flooding

Answer 7

• Ougrin has found that flooding is highly effective and quicker than alternative therapies such as CBT
• so the patient can be free of their symptoms quicker and so treatment is cheaper

Question 8

Limitation of Flooding

Answer 8

• doesn’t work for every patient and can be highly traumatic
• may actually make their phobia worse and become a waste of money instead