Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias - Systematic Densensitisation And Flooding

Question 1

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate systematic densensitisation as a behavioural approach to treating phobias?

Answer 1

RTS - spider phobia
Weakness - less appropiate as it requires motivation and commitment
Strength - more appropiate as indv has high control

Question 2

P
(RTS - spider phobia)

Answer 2

RTS effectiveness of SD - conducted by a researcher.

Question 3

E

Answer 3

They followed up approx 40 ppl who had SD for spider phobias in three 45 min sessions using gradual exposure

Question 4

E

Answer 4

They found that at both 3 months and 33 months after treatment, SD group was less fearful than control group who was treated with therapy that didnt use exposure to phobic stimulus

Question 5

L

Answer 5

Therefore suggesting that reassociating a phobia with relaxation thru SD is an effective behavioural treatment for phobias

Question 6

P
(Less appropiate as it requires motivation + commitment)

Answer 6

However, despite there being evidence of SD being effective, it could be argued SD may not be appropriate for all patients as it requires motivation and commitment

Question 7

E

Answer 7

• this is bc patients must attend sessions over a long period of time and be gradually exposed to situations that cause anx
• this may cause patients to stop attending therapy, if this happens then therapy is ineffective and anx will return

Question 8

E

Answer 8

This is unlike drug therapy which requires little motivation and commitment from patients as they only have to take a tablet to reduce anx they feel

Question 9

L

Answer 9

Therefore, limiting appropiateness of SD

Question 10

P
(More appropriate as patients have high control over therapy)

Answer 10

Strength - more appropiate behavioural therapy as patient has high control over their own therapy

Question 11

E

Answer 11

This is bc they create their own hierachy of anx with therapist and be gradually exposed to phobic stimulus, only moving on when theyre relaxed

Question 12

E

Answer 12

• this is unlike flooding which can be traumatic for some patients as theyre immediately exposed to most feared situation, causing high anx levels
• meaning patients prefer SD as many drop out or say no to flooding treatment

Question 13

L

Answer 13

Therefore - more appropiate treatment

Question 14

What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate flooding as a behavioural treatment of phobias?

Answer 14

Strength - highly cost effective
Weakness - unethical treatment

Question 15

P
(Highly cost effective)

Answer 15

Strength - highly cost effective way to treat a phobia

Question 16

E

Answer 16

• therapy is effective but not expensive
• as flooding can work in 1 session due to immediate exposure and extinction of phobia
• unlike SD which could take 10 sessions for the same result as it uses gradual exposure to phobic stimulus

Question 17

E

Answer 17

• therefore flooding is more cost effective for NHS to use
• could benefit economy as more ppl would be treated for phobias in less time using fewer resources

Question 18

L

Answer 18

Therefore flooding may be a more appropriate therapy to use in real world

Question 19

P
(Unethical treatment)

Answer 19

However, others would argue flooding is not an appropiate treatment for phobias as a limitation is that it may be seen as an unethical treatment

Question 20

E

Answer 20

• this is bc patient is immediately exposed to most feared phobic stimulus for 2-3 hours which may cause indv to experience extreme anx
• although full informed consent is gained from patients, SD could be seen as a more ethical treatment as it gradually exposes patients to phobic stimulus at their own rate

Question 21

E

Answer 21

• it was found patients and therapists rated flooding significantly more stressful treatment than SD, therefore due to this trauma, drop out rates are higher for flooding

Question 22

L

Answer 22

Therefore, reducing appropiateness and effectiveness of flooding