psychopathology - behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

aim of systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

• use classical conditioning
• to unlearn maladaptive behavioural response
• to phobic stimulus

Question 2

acronym for AO1

Answer 2

Rihanna - relaxation
Has - hierarchy of anxiety
Got Excellent - gradual exposure
Clothing taste - complete treatment

Question 3

relaxation - AO1

Answer 3

• patient taught relaxation techniques
• e.g. muscle relaxation techniques
• breathing exercises
• client encouraged to put them into practice when exposed to phobic stimuli

Question 4

hierarchy of anxiety - AO1

Answer 4

• client and therapist work together to make graded scale
• least feared stimuli at one end
• most feared stimuli at the other end
• e.g. wasps: least feared stimuli would be a picture of a wasp, most feared stimuli would be in a room with wasps
• link example to scenario

Question 5

gradual exposure - AO1

Answer 5

• client and therapist move through hierarchy
• starting with least feared stimuli
• encouraged to put relaxation techniques in place
• reciprocol inhibition - two incompatible states of mind cannot co-exist at the same time e.g. anxiety and relaxation
• only move onto next stage once relaxed

Question 6

complete treatment - AO1

Answer 6

• client fully desensitised
• can move through hierarchy with no fear/anxiety

Question 7

research to support SD - AO3
Gilroy (2003)

Answer 7

P - research to support
- Gilroy

E - followed 42 people who had SD for spider phobias
- 3 x 45 min sessions
- 3 months and 33 months after treatment

E - compared to control group who received therapy without exposure to stimuli
- SD group were much less fearful

L - suggests reassociating phobia with relaxation is effective

THINK FURTHER
- review in 2019 by wechsler et al
- concluded SD is effective for specific phobias, social phobias and agoraphobia

Question 8

SD - AO3
not appropriate (requires motivation and commitment)

Answer 8

P - SD is effective
- however may not be appropriate
- requires motivation and commitment from patients

E - required to attend sessions over period of time
- exposed to anxiety provoking situations
- patients may stop treatment

E - if patients stop treatment it is ineffective, anxieties return
- unlike drug therapy
- requires little motivation/commitment
- tablet taken to reduce anxiety

L - limits appropriateness of SD

Question 9

SD - AO3
strength: patients have control over therapy

Answer 9

P - SD can be seen as more appropriate behavioural therapy
- patients have control over therapy

E - patient and therapist work together to make hierarchy of anxiety
- patient only moves through anxiety once relaxed (gradual exposure)

E - unlike flooding where patient is exposed to most feared stimuli immediately
- resulting in high anxiety rates
- SD has low refusal and low attrition rates

L - so SD more appropriate

Question 10

SD - AO3
strength: virtual reality

Answer 10

P - as well as the real world SD can be used in virtual reality

E - helps avoid dangerous situations e.g. heights and sharks

E - moreover cost and time effective
- no need to leave consulting room

L - SD can treat wide range of phobias
- accessible to wide variety of patients

Question 11

Flooding - AO1
Aim

Answer 11

to use classical conditioning to unlearn maladaptive behavioural response to a phobic stimulus

Question 12

Flooding - AO1

Answer 12

• patient exposed to most feared stimuli
• must remain in its presence
• high levels of anxiety experienced
• remain exposed until response is exhausted/anxiety decreases
• usually lasts 2-3 hours
• anxiety eventually disappears = extinction
• patient learns that phobia is harmless

Question 13

Flooding - AO3
Strength: cost effective

Answer 13

P - strength of flooding
- highly cost effective
- effective and not expensive

E - usually takes 1 session due to immediate exposure and extinction
- unlike SD which may take up to 10 sessions
- due to gradual exposure

E - benefits NHS
- more ppl treated in less time
- less resources needed for flooding
- benefits economy

L - so flooding may be more appropriate
- to use in real world

Question 14

Flooding - AO3
Weakness: unethical

Answer 14

P - limitation
- unethical treatment
- patient exposed to high levels of anxiety
- for 2-3 hours

E - although full informed consent given
- SD can be seen as more ethical
- due to gradual exposure at own rate of patient

E - Schumacher et al (2015)
- found ppts and therapists rated flooding as more stressful than SD
- so flooding has higher attrition rates

L - reduces effectivness and appropriateness of flooding