Psychopathology - treating phobias

Question 1

What are the two types of treating phobias?

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation and flooding

Question 2

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

A behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic stimulus through classical conditioning

Question 3

What are the 3 processes of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 3

The anxiety hierarchy, relaxation and exposure

Question 4

What is the anxiety hierarchy?

Answer 4

A list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoked anxiety ranged in order from least to most frightening

Question 5

What is reciprocal inhibitation?

Answer 5

That it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time

Question 6

What happens during the exposure stage?

Answer 6

The patient is exposed to the stimulus from the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy

Question 7

When is treatment successful?

Answer 7

When the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy

Question 8

What does flooding involve?

Answer 8

Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation

Question 9

When is a learned response extinguished?

Answer 9

When the conditioned stimulus is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus. The result is that the conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response

Question 10

What do clients have to give for flooding?

Answer 10

Informed consent due to it being an unpleasant experience

Question 11

What is one strength of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 11

Evidence of effectiveness

Question 12

What is the evaluation of systematic desensitisation having evidence for effectiveness?

Answer 12

P: Evidence base for its effectiveness
E: Lisa Gilroy (2003)- followed up 42 people with a spider fear and found that were less fearful treated by relaxation
E: Theresa Wechsler (2019)- SD is effective for specific, social and agora phobia
L: Helpful for people with phobias

Question 13

What is another strength of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 13

People with learning disabilities

Question 14

What is the evaluation of systematic desensitisation being useful for people with learning disabilites?

Answer 14

P: Help people with learning disabilites
E: People with learning disabilities struggle with cognitive therapies
E: Feel confused with the traumatic experience of flooding
L: Most appropriate treatment