systematic desensitisation Flashcards
intro
a phobia is a anxiety disorder which causes extreme and irrational fear based on a object/ situation which effects every day life
A01
systematic desensitisation is based on classical conditioning concepts, if the phobia is formed from CC it can be removed the same way, association
its based on the proposition of reciprocal inhibition where you cannot feel 2 contrasting emotions, relaxation and fear at the same time
can be between 4-12 sessions based on severity and how willing individual is to relax
3 stages:
funtional anaylsis
this involves careful questioning on the individual identifying potential triggers and nature of anxiety
construction of anxiety hierarchy
involves making a heirarcy of fear most to least fearful situations
relaxation training
involves learning relaxation method such as triangle breathing and how to use them when feel anxious
gradual exposure
gradually exposed from beginning of hierarchy, only move onto next stage when feel comfortable to do so
treatment = successful when therautic goal isreached
point 1
strength: capafons found 90% of patients who carried out SD for a fear of flying, found treatment successful, used the 4 stages of SD and both in vivo- real life and in vitro- between 12-15 sessions simulation. SD= effective,
weakness- either weakbesss of capafons , questionnaires- social desirability
or …
hard to replicate phobic scenario e.g. fear of flying not scared of planes or plane films just the experience of flying and potential fear of crashing, cant always replicate this therefore may not be as effective and not able reach top of hierarchy, not possible all phobias
point 2
mc graph et al 1990 found that SD was effective for 75% of patients with specific food phobias although found 50% relapse 6 months for thoes with more complex social phobias e.g. leaving the house. therefore not effective for all phobias, specific phobias easy work way up anxiety hierarchy but psychoanalysis may be more effective for thoes with more complex phobias
strength: better than flooding
weakness: both mask root cause, relieve and help with symptoms- behavioural therapies but don’t target root case e.g. tramua which could mean spontaneous recovery could occur just masking symptoms
