behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

what is counter conditioning?

Answer 1

this is where a new, positive response to the phobic stimulus is learned (relaxation instead of anxiety)

Question 2

what are the 3 steps in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

1- patients are taught how to relax this can be done through breathing techniques, visualisation or anti anxiety drug

2-an anxiety hierachy is created when the ps put their phobic stimulus from least to most anxiety inducing

3- exposded gradually to the phobic stumulus ensuring that the person is relaxed at each stage

the patient associates the relaxation they feel with breathing techniques with their phobic stimulus

Question 3

weakness: clients imagination

Answer 3

One weakness of Systematic Desensitisation is that it relies on the client’s ability to be able to imagine the fearful
situation.

Some people cannot create a vivid image in their head so systematic desensitisation would not be effective

Question 4

weakness: real world

Answer 4

although systematic desensitisation may be effective in the theraputic situation it may not work in the real world

Question 5

weakness: difficult to access

Answer 5

it requires 1 to 1 sessions with a trained specialist therapist and there is a national shortage of funding for behavioural therapy

all these factors lead to longer waiting times

Question 6

advantage: gradual exposure

Answer 6

gradual exposure makes it easier for patients to handle anxiety of the situation whereas in flooding the most feared situation is presented immediately

it is suitable for children as it is not causing immediate extreme anxiety so it will not traumatise children

Question 7

advatntage: deals with cause of phobia

Answer 7

it deals with the cause of the phobia ( original conditioned response) rather than medicating symptoms

Question 8

advantage: empowering

Answer 8

empowering for the patients
they have control of the hierachy

this can motivate patients to stick with the therapy and prevents costly missed appointments

Question 9

what researcher supports systematic desensitisation?

Answer 9

gilroy et al

Question 10

what is the procedure gilroys study?

Answer 10

followed up 42 patients who had been treated for spider phobia with systematic desensitisation

the spider phobia was on several measures including the spider questionnare and by assessing the patients response to a spider

a control group was treated with relaxation without exposure to a spider (phobic stimulus)

Question 11

what did gilroy find?

Answer 11

at both 3 months and 33 months after the treatment the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than the relaxation group

this is a strength as it shows that systematic desensitisation is helpful in reducing anxiety in spider phobia and that the effects are long lasting

Question 12

what does gilroys research suggest about the effectiveness of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 12

sd is effective

gilroys research shows that the combination of relaxation techniques and gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus (hierachy) compared to relaxation techniques alone

Question 13

what is flooding?

Answer 13

immediate/ direct exposure to the phobic stimulus

it prevents avoidance of phobic stimulus
this happens until the patient is calm , anxiety has receded and the fear of phobic stimulus has gone

Question 14

support of flooding: ougrin

Answer 14

ougrin found that flooding is equally effective to other treatments but takes less time making it more cost effective

Question 15

support for flooding- wolpe

Answer 15

used flooding to successfully remove a girls phobia of cars

they forced her into a car and drove her around for hours until her hysteria eradicated

Question 16

advantage- cause of phobia

Answer 16

deals with the cause of the phobia ( the original conditioned response)
rather than medicating symptoms

Question 17

disadvantage- wolpe

Answer 17

wolpe found that stress caused by flooding could leave to hospitalisation

high levels of stress and anxiety can cause patients to miss appointments or not finish their course of treatment which can be costly

Question 18

disadvantage: difficult to access

Answer 18

it requires 1 to 1 sessions with a trained specialist therapist and there is a national shortage of funding for behavioural therapy

all these factors lead to longer waiting times

Question 19

disadvantage: not suitable for vulnerable people

Answer 19

flooding can cause extreme fear or anxiety as there is immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus

children can find it very traumatic