Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

The behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning.

Question 2

3 process of systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

1. The anxiety hierarchy- conducted by patient with therapist. List of situations linked to phobic stimuli from least to most frightening.
2. Relaxation- therapist teaches the patient to relax as deeply as possible. Learning breathing exercises or imagery techniques.
3. Exposure- the patient will be exposed in accordance with the hierarchy to the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state. To continue up the hierarchy patient must remain relaxed at current stage.

Question 3

What is flooding

Answer 3

Flooding involves exposing phobic patients to their phobic stimulus without a gradual build up or anxiety hierarchy.

Question 4

How does flooding work

Answer 4

Flooding exposes the patient to the highest level. This can sometimes achieve relaxation in the presence of phobic stimulus because they have become exhausted with their own fear response.

Question 5

SD Evaluation- it is effective

Answer 5

Gilroy et al (2003)

• 42 patients with spider phobia
• That had 3 45 minute systematic desensitisation sessions.
• a control group were treated with relaxation without any exposure
• RESULTS found that the SD group were less fearful 3 months and 33 months later.

😊 demonstrates that SD is helpful at reducing specific phobias such as arachnophobia and the effects are long lasting

Question 6

SD Evaluation- it is suitable for diverse range of patients

Answer 6

Systematic desensitisation suits the needs of al patients as it is not as high anxiety as flooding

• also suits people with learning difficulties
• as other cognitive therapies prove hard with learning difficulties

Has wide reliability and use

Question 7

SD Evaluation- is acceptable to patients

Answer 7

Patients prefer this method of treatment.

• It does not crate the same degree of trauma as flooding.
• It has pleasant relaxation elements
• has low refusal rates

Question 8

F evaluation- it is cost effective

Answer 8

It is effective for specific phobias and is only a one of treatment so therefore cheap

• it is cheaper
• quicker than alternatives
• patients are free from their phobias and symptoms as soon as possible

Question 9

F evaluation- it is less effective for some types of phobia

Answer 9

It is less effective for complex phobias like social phobias
- because social phobias have huge cognitive aspects

• isn’t applicable or able to be used across all phobias

Question 10

F - the treatment is traumatic for patients

Answer 10

Highly traumatic experience

• if no consent or briefing it is is unethical
• limitation as may increase the phobia due to degree of trauma