Treatment of phobias - systematic desensitisation

Question 1

What is systematic desensitisation? How does it work?

Answer 1

A type of therapy which uses reverse counter-conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response by learning another which is relaxation

Question 2

What are the three components?

Answer 2

Fear hierarchy
Relaxation training
Reciprocal inhibition

Question 3

What is a fear hierarchy?

Answer 3

The therapist and patient work together to create a fear hierarchy, from the least scary to the most scary

Question 4

What is relaxation training?

Answer 4

The individual is taught relaxation techniques, for example breathing techniques and muscle relaxation strategies

Question 5

What does reciprocal inhibition involve?

Answer 5

Reciprocal inhibition means that two emotional states, eg. anxiety and relaxation, cannot exist at the same time.
The final stage involves exposing the patient to their phobic situation whilst they are relaxed.

Question 6

What are the strengths of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 6

• Less traumatic than flooding
• Long lasting, effective effects
• Suitable for a diverse range of patients

Question 7

What did Gilroy et al (2002) find?

Answer 7

• They examined 42 patients with a fear of spiders
• They were each treated using systematic desensitisation
• Results - Less fearful after 3 months and 33 months compared to a control group who just received relaxation techniques
• Shows the long term effects of the treatment

Question 8

What are weaknesses of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 8

• Ethical considerations - cause psychological harm

- Not suitable for every phobia