The behavioural approach to treating phobias

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 1

A behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response, such as anxiety

Question 2

What are the 3 stages of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

1) Anxiety hierarchy (list of situations related to phobic stimulus, arranged from least to most frightening)
2) Relaxation (provide relaxation techniques: breathing exercises, mental imagery techniques, medication, drugs)
3) Exposure (exposure to stimulus whilst in relaxed state- when client remains relaxed, they move onto the next stage of the anxiety hierarchy)

Question 3

STRENGTH-
I= Evidence for effectiveness

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

D= Gilroy et al studied 42 people who were treated by SD for spider phobias. Followed up after 3, then 33 months. SD group were less fearful than a control group (relaxation, no exposure)
E= Suggests its effectiveness in phobia treatment

Question 4

STRENGTH-
I= Used to help people with learning disabilities

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 4

D= People with learning disabilities sometimes find cognitive therapies difficult, as they require complex thought. They may feel confused and distressed by the trauma of flooding
E= Means SD is most appropriate for those with learning disabilities

Question 5

STRENGTH-
I= More practical than direct exposure

SD in virtual reality

Answer 5

D= Can be used to avoid dangerous situations, such as heights, and is cost-effective as psychologists can remain in the consulting room
E= Saves time and money (for phobias like flying)

Question 6

LIMITATION-
I= Lacks realism

SD in virtual reality

Answer 6

D= SD involves exposure in real-life settings. Its realism is an advantage
E= Evidence from Wechsler et al suggests real-world exposure is more effective than VR exposure

Question 7

What is flooding?

Answer 7

A behavioural therapy in which a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of a phobic stimulus to reduce anxiety triggered by the stimulus

Question 8

How does flooding work?

Answer 8

• Flooding almost immediately stops phobic responses
• Without the option of avoidance, the client learns the stimulus is harmless
• Learned response of fear is extinguished when the CS and UCS come into contact
• Client may even achieve relaxation when presented with stimulus as their fear has exhausted them

Question 9

What are the ethical issues surrounding flooding?

Answer 9

• Flooding is not unethical but it is an unpleasant experience and can be traumatising, so informed conset must be obtained prior to the procedure

Question 10

STRENGTH-
I= Cost-effective

Flooding

Answer 10

D= Therapy is cost effective if it is both clinically effective and not expensive. Flooding can work in a minium of 1 session vs 10 for SD
E= Means more people can be treated at the same cost with flooding than with alternatives

Question 11

LIMITATION-
I= Traumatic experience

Flooding

Answer 11

D= Confronting one’s stimulus in extreme forms can provoke high anxiety levels. Schumacher et al= participants rated flooding as more stressful than SD. This raises ethical issues of inflicting harm. Trauma means dropout rates are higher
E= Suggests therapies may avoid this treatment and may choose alternatives

Question 12

Symptom substitution

Evaluation extra

Answer 12

LIMITATION-
- Flooding masks symptoms, and does not tackle underlying causes of phobias- as one symptom gets better, another gets worse. Persons- woman with a phobia of death- fear of death declined, fear of criticism increased

STRENGTH-
- Existence of symptom substitution comes from case studies- case study approach may be flawed, so findings do not generalise