Behavioural Treatments For Phobias

Question 1

Name two behavioural treatments for phobias

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding

Question 2

Define systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

A behavioural therapy designed to reduce a response to a stimulus

Question 3

Describe systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

Anxiety hierarchy is established, patient taught relaxation techniques, gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus

Question 4

What concepts does systematic desensitisation (SD) rely on?

Answer 4

Counterconditioning
Reciprocal inhibition (fear + relaxation don’t coexist)

Question 5

Define flooding

Answer 5

Immediate and complete exposure to the phobic stimulus

Question 6

How does flooding work?

Answer 6

Without avoidance extinction occurs. The phobia is extinguished when the conditioned sitmulus is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 7

Evaluate behavioural treatments for phobias

Answer 7

+ Support: Gilroy 42 patients, arachnophobia: 3 × 45 min SD : examined 3 months and 33 months later: SD effective generally and in the long term.
+ CBT requires thinking: not required from behavioural therapy - applicable and useful to diverse range of clients e.g. children and learning disabilities

• Schumacher et Al flooding rated significantly more stressful than SD - traumatic
• Symptoms substitution