flooding- treatment phobias Flashcards
intro
a phobia is an anxiety disorder hat causes extreme and irrational fear towards something that affects every day life
point 1
A01- flooding is based on the principles of CC, that if a phobia is learnt it can be unlearnt, flooding involves exposing the ppt to the top of their anxiety hierarchy, their dear, unable to avoid facing fear and avoiding using gradual exposure.\its based on the theory of reciprocal inhibition that you cant feel 2 contrasting emotions at the same time- simultaneously such as fear and relaxation.
strength: wolpe supported the use of flooding. one a patient with an extreme phobia of enclosed spaces, he used flooding by closing her in his boot of his car and drove around until she had calmed down. this demonstrates how she was placed at the top of her anxiety hierarchy and removed the ability to avoid the fear as well as leaving her to get over the adrenaline panic stage and realise the fear was irrational.overall, this method worked to remove her phobia, credible and useful method to treat.
weakness: although another one of wolpes patients was hospitalised using flooding due to extreme anxiety that it caused her. this demonstrates that this method is not useful for all people especially this that experience extremely high levels of anxiety this treatment could be dangerous.
point A01
A01- based on the principle that we cannot maintain anxiety at such a high level for a prolonged period of time until exhaustion occurs , adrenaline only lasts short period of time and once it has been worn off patients may come to terms with the fact their phobia is irrational
- relaxation methods can be used alongside such as rectangular breathing
the clinician shouldn’t interfere only to help with relaxation
response extinction should occur
point 2 A03
weakness: although SD may be considered a better treatment for removing phobias based on CC principles. it can be seen as much more ethical as it avoids extreme levels of anxiety and gradually exposes so that by the time at top less frightened and ready, it also creates a deeper disconnect between the stimuli and the fear limiting the chances that spontaneous recovery will occur.
strength: although, practically, flooding may be a better option, its more accessible, cheaper option as it requires only a few sessions compared to perhaps 10 sessions of SD which may £60 per session, therefore limiting time and money spent by the NHS while also helping people have a better quality of life.
