The behavioural approach to treating phobias - Flooding

Question 1

What is flooding?

Answer 1

A behavioural therapy
Involves exposing people with a phobia to their phobic stimulus
without gradual buildup

Question 2

What is the result of flooding.

Answer 2

The conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response (fear).

Question 3

Patients should give informed consent because…

Answer 3

it is a traumatic procedure.

Question 4

Evaluations of flooding?

Answer 4

Highly cost - effective
Highly traumatic experience

Question 5

Evaluation: Highly traumatic experience

Answer 5

Highly traumatic experience
Confronting one’s phobic stimulus causes high levels of anxiety in patients.
Although it is not unethical as patients provide fully informed consent,
many do not complete their treatment because its too stressfull.
High dropout rate compared to SD.
May be a waste of time and money if not fully completed.

Question 6

Evaluation: Highly cost-effective

Answer 6

Highly cost effective
Significant advantage for healthcare systems such as NHS.
Where clinical efficacy and affordability are crucial factors.
Flooding can work in as little as one session compare to 10 for SD
Even with longer sessions of flooding such as 3 hours - still a cost effective method than other treatments.
Allows more people to afford treatment for phobias.