behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
what are the 2 treatments for phobias ?
- systematic desensitisation
- flooding
key facts for systematic desensitisation
- developed by Wolpe
- based on classical conditioning
- counterbalancing
- reciprocal inhibition
- progressive, step by step treatment
- two emotional states cannot exist at same time
term: counterbalancing
creating new response to stimulus eg relaxation instead of anxiety
term: reciprocal inhibition
two emotional states cant exist at same time so eventually relaxation replaces fear
what are the 3 steps for SD?
- Relaxation Training
- Anxiety Hierarchy
- Exposure
what happens in relaxation training?
where given training on relaxation techniques like muscle relaxation to help remain calm when exposed to fear. trained until do it off by heart. relaxation can be achieved using drugs- valium
what happens in the anxiety hierarchy?
create an anxiety hierarchy involving conditioned stimulus that are ranked from least fearful to most fearful
what happens in exposure?
exposed to phobic stimulus while in relaxed state, takes place over several sessions, work way up anxiety hierarchy starting at least unpleasant practicing relaxation techniques as do. able to remain relaxed= able to move up hierarchy. treatment successful when stay relaxed in situations high on anxiety hierachy
strengths of systematic desensitisation
- effective compared to drugs- helpful in reducing anxiety
- children + learning disability ppl be treated
- patients have active role in therapy + can withdraw if uncomfortable
- less stressful
- ethical as no deception, consent
limitation of systematic desensitisation
- can take longer than flooding so can costly
how is systematic desensitisation acceptable to patients?
- preferred over flooding
- doesnt cause same degree of trauma
- includes elements of relaxation procedures
- reflected in low refusal and drop out rates
how can systematic desensitisation treat people with learning disabilities?
- struggle with cognitive therapies requiring high level rational thought
- may feel confused/distressed by traumatic experience of flooding
- most appropriate for them
key facts for flooding
exposes individual to most anxiety inducing stimulus immediately. individual will practice relaxation techniques at the same time. session continues until patient is fully relaxed
how does flooding work?
person is unable to avoid (negative reinforce) their phobia without option of avoidance, person quickly learns the phobic stimulus is harmless. leads to anxiety levels decreasing + extinction of phobia
flooding research
Wolpe- flooding to remove girls phobia of cars. girl forced into car and driven around for 4 hours until fear removed.
strength of flooding
cheaper than SD and quicker
limitations of flooding
- less effective for more complex phobias- social phobias
- not suitable for some- learning difficulties
- loses right to withdraw
- dont complete treatment as very stressful
- harm
how is flooding less effective for some phobias?
- highly effective for simple phobias, less for more complex like social phobias (cognitive aspects)
- social phobia= thinks unpleasant thoughts about social situation
- type of phobia benefit more from cognitive therapies to tackle irrational thoughts
how is flooding traumatic?
- confornting phobic stimulus in extreme form provokes extreme anxiety
- raises ethical issues- knowingly causes stress (however get consent)
- traumatic nature= high drop out rate than SD so may avoid
how is flooding cost effective?
- therapy is cost effective if clinically effective and not expensive
- flooding can work in one session, SD=10 for same result
- treat at same cost
- however SD has lower drop out so could be more cost effective in long term
