Lecture 8 - Behavioural Methods

Question 1

What are the BT (behaviour therapy) methods for Anxiety Reduction?

Answer 1

Systematic Desensitisation

Graded Real-Life practise

Imaginal Flooding and Exposure in-Vivo

Question 2

Assessment prior to treatment of BT for Anxiety Reduction - What to assess?

Answer 2

What is the problematic behaviour?

What negative beliefs fuel the undesirable behaviour?

What is the level of negative emotion (anxiety) experienced by client?

What are some desirable consequences for the client?

Question 3

What is Systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

It is a therapy by reciprocal inhibition.

Key word - Gradually

Question 4

What is Reciprocal Inhibition?

Answer 4

A technique in behavior therapy that aims to replace an undesired response (e.g., anxiety) with a desired one by counterconditioning.

It relies on the gradual substitution of a response that is incompatible with the original one and is potent enough to neutralize the anxiety-evoking power of the stimulus.

Question 5

How do you perform Systematic Desensitisation?

Answer 5

You establish an Anxiety hierarchy

You do Relaxation training

You expose to real life or in imagination to hierarchy items while relaxing

Question 6

What is Exposure therapy?

Answer 6

In vivo or in imagination

Graded or maximal flooding

Characteristics of effective exposure:

Longer duration better than shorter
Repeat until anxiety subsides
Graduated
Client must attend to feared stimulus
Client must experience anxiety

Key word: Explosive

Question 7

For what disorders is useful Exposure therapy?

Answer 7

Anxiety
For Agoraphobia
For OCD
Panic disorder

Question 8

What are the principles of Operant Conditioning?

Answer 8

Positive reinforcement

Negative reinforcement

Punishment

Response cost

Contingency Contracting

Token economy