Treating phobias

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 1

-Devoloped by Wolpe in 1958
-Learn to relax in the either the presence of the feared object or by imagining the feared object

Question 2

What is the process of systematic desensisation?

Answer 2

1) Taught how to relax muscles completely
2)therapist and patient construct a desensitization hierarchy-A list of frightening stressful events relating to the phobia
3) Patient is gradually exposed to each event in the hierarchy while engaging in the muscle relaxation techniques
4) reciprocal inhibiton-Fear response and relaxation response cannot occur together
5)eventually learn to handle their fear by replacing anxiety with relaxation.

Question 3

what is flooding?

Answer 3

-Exposing clients to an extreme form of their phobia under relaxed conditions until anxiety response is extinguished
-Client needs to be in good physical health as exposed to maximum level of fear.

Question 4

What are the strengths of treating phobias?

Answer 4

-Research supports effectiveness
-Barlow et al(2002)supports use of systematic desensitization as can be highly effective in treating specific phobias with success rates of 60-90%
-Ost 1997 supports flooding as it offers rapid and immediate improvements
-so this proves these therapies can be successful in improving symptoms of phobias.
-Classical and operant conditioning in development of therapies can help to improve the well being of people suffering from phobia

flooding-requires less time and commitment as it includes only one treatment
-systematic desensitisation is ethical meaning careful consideration is needed when selecting an appropriate therapy for individuals

Question 5

What are the limitations of treating phobias?

Answer 5

-Systematic desensitization is time consuming causing a greater level of equipment
-Ethical considerations with flooding as clients are subjected to intense fear and anxiety so if they choose to back out during the flooding process then it may intensify phobia and make the individual more resistant to treatment in the future.
-Treat symptoms of phobias but not the cause and are therefore very superficial in nature. It does not address the psychological and emotional issues related to the disorder. So patient could manifest a new phobia overtime .So, better used in combination with other therapies rather than beign used in isolation.