🟠 Psychopathology - Phobias Treatments

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

Behavioural therapy based on the principles of classical conditioning. Aims to extinguish an undesirable behaviour by replacing it with a more desirable one

Question 2

First stage of systematic desensitisation

Answer 2

Client taught relation techniques:

• therapist teaches deep relaxation techniques
• controlled breathing / progressive muscle relaxation
• aim it to replace fear response with relaxation

Question 3

Second stage of systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

Negotiation

• therapist asks client to create a fear of hierarchy from the least feared situation to the highest level of fear associated with the phobia

Question 4

Third stage of systematic desensitisation

Answer 4

Graduated exposure

• client works way through hierarchy
• they will perform relaxation techniques at each stage
• once comfortable at each level, move up to next stage of hierarchy
• if fear is too much, will move down the hierarchy

Question 5

Usual number of systematic desensitisation sessions

Answer 5

4-6, extreme cases, 12

Question 6

Researching supporting systematic desensitisation:

Answer 6

Gilroy (2003)
42 patients treated for arachnophobia using SD. Followed up 3 mins and 33 months after treatment . SD group were less fearful than relaxation group. The relaxation group was treated by relaxation without exposure

Question 7

Flooding - unavoidable exposure

Answer 7

This involves introductijg you to the thing that you fear in the most immediate and unavoidable way

Question 8

Flooding - extinction

Answer 8

This involves learning to associate the thing you fear with something neutral. Exposure to phobia but without gradual build up in an anxiety hierarchy way

Question 9

What is flooding

Answer 9

Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation. Prevention of avoidance until their are calm and anxiety has reduced
. Learns the stimulus is harmless

Question 10

2 ways exposure can be done

Answer 10

Vitro - the client imagines the exposure to the phobic stimulus
Vivo - the client is actually exposed to the phobic stimulus

Question 11

Flooding research

Answer 11

Keane et al (1989)

• studied 24 Vietnam veterans with PTSD
• soldiers received 14 to 16 sessions of flooding
• tested before, after and 6 months later for symptoms of PTSD
• compared to a control group (didn’t have therapy)
• the flooding group had fewer terrifying flashbachks

Question 12

Flooding positives

Answer 12

• cost affective compared to other cognitive therapies
  % research suggested is reliable

Question 13

Flooding negatives

Answer 13

• Less effective for some types of phobias (social phobias)
• ethical issues- the treatment is traumatic for patients

Question 14

SD positives

Answer 14

• appropriateness - behabiour therapies are quick and require a lot less effort than psychotherapy
• SD is successful for a range of phobias

Question 15

Problem with SD

Answer 15

it may appear to resolve problems but simply eliminating or suppressing may lead to symptom substitution