Systematic Desenstitisation And Flooding -Behavuoral Approach To Treating Phobias

Question 1

What are the 4 stages to treat phobias?

Answer 1

Relaxation

Hierchy or anxiety

Gradual exposure

Complete treatment

Question 2

Relaxation

Answer 2

Taught how to relax using muscle relaxation techniques or breathing excersizes

Patient put these techniques into practice when exposed to the phobia

Question 3

Hierchy of anxiety

Answer 3

Patient works with therapist to make a graded scale starting with stimuli that scared them the least to what scared them the most

Eg picture of phobic stimulas would be on low scale , being put in a room with phobic stimulas on high scale

Question 4

Gradual exposure

Answer 4

Client gradually exposed to least feared situation

May feel anxious but encouraged to put relaxation techniques into practice

Known as reciprocal inhibition where 2 incompatable states of mind co exist at the same time eg anxiety and relaxation

Question 5

Complete treatment

Answer 5

when desensitised, able to move through hierarchy without anxiety

Question 6

Ao3 strength systematic desensitisation

Answer 6

RTS effectiveness of sd as behavioural treatment for phobias by Gilroy

Followed up 42 people who had sd for spider phobias

3 months after treatment and 33 months after treatment sd group were much less fearful

Thus suggesting reassociating phobia with relaxation through sd is an effective behavioural approach

Question 7

Ao3 weakness sd

Answer 7

Treatment may not be appropriate as it requires motivation and commitment

Patients must attend session over period of and exposed to anxiety provoking situations some may stop therapy

Unlike drug therapy which requires little motivation as only take a tablet in order to reduce anxiety

Limiting appropriateness of sd

Question 8

Ao3 strength of sd

Answer 8

High control over own therapy
Patient creates own hierarchy

Only make it on to the next stage when relaxed

Unlike flooding which can cause high levels of anxiety as they are immediately exposed to most feared stimuli

Thus suggesting sd is appropriate treatment for phobias as patients less likely to drop out

Question 9

What are the two behavioural treatments for phobias ?

Answer 9

Flooding and systematic desensitisation

Question 10

Flooding

Answer 10

Immediately exposed to most feared stimuli must stay in presence

Experience high levels of anxiety remain exposed until anxiety response is exhausted

Last 2-3 hours until anxiety eventually disappears

Known as extinction patient learns phobic stimulus is harmless

Question 11

Ao3 flooding strength

Answer 11

Costs effective way to treat phobia

Effective as it can work in as little as one session due to immediate exposure and extinction of phobia

Unlike sd which can take up to 10 sessions

Thus flooding may be more appropriate therapy to use in real world as it could benefit the economy

Question 12

Ao3 flooding limitations

Answer 12

Unethical as patients may experience extreme anxiety

Exposed to phobic stimulas for 2-3 hours
Although full consent is gained

Sd could be seen as more ethical as it gradually exposes patients phobic stimulus at own rate

Found flooding significantly more stressful than SD and attrition rates (drop outs) than SD

Reducing appropriateness and effectiveness of flooding as behavioural treatment