treatments for phobias

Question 1

what is systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

based on principles of CC
substitutes fear with relaxation
1. funcional analysis - nature and triggers discussed
2. developing an anxiety
3. relaxation training
4. gradual exposure

Question 2

evaluate systematic densensitisation

Answer 2

+ successful with more specific phobias
+ patient has greater control
+ McGrant found 75% of individuals with phobias respond to the therapy
+ no significant ethical issues, no high anxiety
- not been as successful with social phobias
- individual needs to relax and be involved in whole process but not everyone can do this
- situation has to be clear and identifiable, general anxiety wont work
- less effective oh phobias that have underlying survival component, aminals or dark, difficult to remove fears deep in evolutionary past

Question 3

what is flooding

Answer 3

patient being physically placed in situation of fear
direct prolonged exposure to a fearful situation or experience
escape is not possible
implosion is when the person imagines
fight or flight can only occur for a certain amount of time

Question 4

evaluate flooding

Answer 4

+ faster
+ works with PTSD
+ demonstrates that the phobia is irrational, worst didnt happen
+ boulougouris found fllod to last over 12 months
- risks increasing strength of condition response to fear rather than extinguishing it
- not ethical
- barrett used implosion of snake phobia, in one student images of snakes became associated with having her eyes shut, resulted in insomnia and couldnt attend lecutrues