Treating Phobias

Question 1

What kind of approach is used to treat phobias

Answer 1

Behavioural

Question 2

Name the 2 types of treatment used?

Answer 2

Systematic desensitisation

Flooding

Question 3

Outline systematic desensitisation

Answer 3

Gradually reducing phobic anxiety by the principle of classical conditioning

Question 4

What are the steps used in systematic desensitisation?

AH, R, E

Answer 4

1. ANXIETY HEIRACHY: Is put together by therapist and clients and consists of their least to most fearful stimulus/ situations
2. RELAXATION: the therapist teaches the client how to relax as deeply as possible.
3. EXPOSURE: A client will be exposed to the phobic stimulus gradually while in a relaxed state. Starting from the least anxiety inducing

Question 5

Strength of Systematic desensitisation

RS

Answer 5

P: Evidence of effectiveness

E: Gilroy (2003) compared a control group and a group who had been treated w. SD. Both had specific phobias. She found that the group who were treated SD were less fearful

E: TMT the treatment is likely to be useful for people w. Phobias

Question 6

Another strength of SD?

Answer 6

P: People w. Learning disabilities

E: CBT requires rational thought. People with learning disabilities may be confused or distressed by the experience of flooding.

E: TMT SD is not the most suitable treatment

Question 7

Outline Flooding

Answer 7

Exposing a person to their phobic stimulus without a gradual build up

Question 8

What’s the process of flooding

Answer 8

• 1 session could be 1-3 hours

Exposing the client to their phobic stimulus without the option for avoidance. The client learns the phobic stimulus is harmless
This is called extinction

Or they will become they will become exhausted

Question 9

What is needed for flooding

Answer 9

Informed consent

Question 10

Strength of flooding

CE

Answer 10

P: Its cost effective

E: In health systems like NHS a cheap therapy is needed. Especially if its effective and cheap its highly favoured. Flooding can work in 1 session compared to 10 sessions of SD

E: TMT more people can be treated

Question 11

Weakness of flooding

Answer 11

P: Traumatic

E: Confronting a fear in extreme forms creates tremendous anxiety. This raises a an ethical problem. Schumer (2015) found patients an therapists rated Flooding more stressful than SD.

E: TST overall therapists may avoid using this treatment