evaluation of the treatment of phobias

Question 1

what does it mean when we say that systematic desensitisation is effective

Answer 1

it is effective in the treatment of specific phobias

e.g. Gilroy et al (2003) followed up 42 patients who had been treated for spider phobia in three 45 minute sessions

Question 2

what happened in Gilroy et al’s study

Answer 2

the spider phobia was assessed on several measures including:

• the spider questionnaire
• assessing response to a spider control group treated by relaxation without exposure

at three months and 33 months after the treatment, the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than the relaxation group

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

Question 3

what is another strength of systematic desensitation

Answer 3

alternates to systematic desensitation
e.g. flooding and cognitive therapies are not well suited to some patients

e.g. some sufferers of phobias have anxiety disorders and learning difficulties

This can make it hard for some patients to understanding what is happening during flooding or to engage with cognitive therapies that require the ability to reflect on what you are thinking

for these patients, systematic desensitisation is probably the most appropriate treatment

Question 4

why is it a strength that flooding is cost-effective

Answer 4

flooding as at least as effective other treatments for specific phobias

studies comparing flooding to cognitive therapies (such as Ougrin 2011) have found that flooding is highly effective and quicker than alternatives

this quick effect is a strength because it means that patients are free of their symptoms as soon as possible therefore making the treatment cheaper

Question 5

the treatment in flooding is traumatic in flooding - why is this a limitation

Answer 5

the most serious issue with the use of flooding is the fact that it is a highly traumatic experience

The problem is not that flooding is unethical ( as patients give consent) but that patients are often unwilling to see it though to the end

This is a limitation of flooding because time and money are sometimes wasted to prepare patients only to have them refuse to start or complete treatment