Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

Behavioural therapy designed to reduce unwanted response, such as anxiety, to a stimulus. Involves drawing up hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations related to the phobic stimulus, teaching patient to relax, and then exposing them to phobic situations. Patient works through hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation.

Question 2

Flooding

Answer 2

Behavioural therapy in which phobic patient exposed to extreme form of phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by stimulus. Takes place across small number of long therapy sessions.

Question 3

What are the three processes involved in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

Anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation
Exposure

Question 4

What ethical safeguards are there for flooding?

Answer 4

Informed consent and will normally be given choice between the 2

Question 5

Evaluation for systematic desensitisation

Answer 5

Effective
Suitable for diverse range of patients
Acceptable to patients

Question 6

Evaluation for flooding

Answer 6

Cost-effective
Less effective for some types of phobia
Treatment traumatic for patients