Psychopathology - Treatments for Phobias Flashcards
What is systemic desensitisation?
Behavioural therapy based on principles of classical conditioning (CC)
What does systemic desensitisation aim to remove?
An undesirable behaviour by replacing it with more desirable one
What is systemic desensitisation a type of?
Therapy
3 stages of systemic desensitisation?
- Client taught relaxation techniques
- Negotiation
- Gradual exposure
What happens during stage 1 of systemic desensitisation?
Therapist trains client deep relaxation techniques with aim of replacing fear response with relaxation
Deep relaxation techniques
Controlled breathing / progressive muscle relaxation
What happens during stage 2 of systemic desensitisation?
Therapist asks client to create fear hierarchy from the least feared situation to the highest level of fear associated with phobias
What happens during stage 3 of systemic desensitisation?
Client works their way through hierarchy and at each stage they perform relaxation technique. Once they feel comfortable they move up hierarchy. If they feel too much fear at any point they move down hierarchy to previous part until they are ready to progress
How many sessions are there for systemic desensitisation?
Number of sessions depends on strength of phonia - 4-6 sessions but may go up to 12
How did Gilroy provide evidence that systemic desensitisation works?
Study with 42 patients with arachnophobia.
Fear assessed by assessing response to a spider and by completing questionnaire.
SD group had more successful treatment than group who were just taught relaxation techniques
What does unavoidable exposure during flooding involve?
Involves introducing you to thing you fear in most immediate and unavoidable way
What does extinction during flooding involve?
A person is unable to avoid (negatively reinforce) their phobia and through continuous exposure, anxiety levels decrease (extinguish)
What is flooding?
The immediate exposure to the phobia without avoidance
When is avoidance of frightening situation prevented until?
Until the client is calm
How is Keane et al show success of flooding?
Study of 24 Vietnam veterans with PTSD. Flooding group had fewer terrifying flashbacks compared to control groups who didn’t receive any therapy
