interventions for phobia (9B)

Question 1

GABA agonists - biological intervention

Answer 1

benzodiazepines - a type of medication that depresses central nervous system activity and is often short-acting anti-anxiety medication

has the same molecular shape as GABA
decrease arousal by enhancing the effect of GABA

Benzodiazepines work as an agonist for GABA by binding to the GABA receptor sites on neurons to mimic the effects of GABA,increasing the effectiveness of GABA, thereby allowing GABA to have its inhibitory effects.By making the neuron less likely to fire, the over-excitation of neurons that causes anxiety is reduced, providing a temporary relief of the stress response.

Question 2

Breathing retraining - biological intervention

Answer 2

a method used to teach breathing control techniques that may reduce physiological arousal

person with a phobia will be taught to control breathing and then apply techniques when they encounter phobia stimulus

Question 3

cognitive behavioural therapy - psychological interventions

Answer 3

a form of psychotherapy that encourages individuals to substitute dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours with more adaptive ones

thoughts (cognitions) - cognitive bias

behaviours - avoidance behaviours

Question 4

systematic desensitisation - psychological interventions

Answer 4

a therapeutic technique used to overcome
phobias that involves a patient being exposed incrementally to increasingly anxiety- inducing stimuli, combined with the use of relaxation techniques

Question 5

process of systematic desensitisation

Answer 5

1. Learn relaxation techniques
2. The development of fear hierarchy
3. the gradual step by step exposure
4. the continuation of this systematic exposure

Question 6

psychoeducation - social interventions

Answer 6

teaching families and supporters of the individuals with mental health disorders how to better understand, deal with and treat their disorder

Question 7

components of psychoeducation

Answer 7

challenging unrealistic thoughts
- Family are encouraged to challenge thoughts in order to help a person understand that their fears are irrational.

not encouraging avoidance behaviours
- Families are taught to not encourage avoidance behaviours