Treatments of Phobias

Question 1

Which two methods are used to treat phobias?

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation and flooding.

Question 2

What process is used in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 2

Counter-conditioning.

Question 3

What are the three steps of counter-conditioning?

Answer 3

Relaxation, anxiety hierarchy, and gradual exposure.

Question 4

Relaxation

Answer 4

The patient is told to relax, sometimes with breathing techniques or meditation, to reduce their flight or fight response.

Question 5

Anxiety Hierarchy

Answer 5

Arranging scenarios concerning the phobia in order of the amount of fear caused.

Question 6

Gradual Exposure

Answer 6

The patient is slowly introduced to the phobia, working through the hierarchy while in a relaxed state.

Question 7

Reciprocal Inhibition

Answer 7

Says that a person cannot be relaxed and scared at the same time.

Question 8

How do relaxation and anxiety hierarchy help in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 8

The patient cannot be scared and relaxed, so when they are kept in a relaxed state throughout, working through the anxiety hierarchy will not scare them.

Question 9

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

Answer 9

Patients work through the anxiety hierarchy, but with the added comfort of using virtual reality. This would further maintain the patient’s calmness.

Question 10

Flooding

Answer 10

Throwing patients in at the deep end, immeadiately exposing them to their worst-case scenario concerning their phobia. The patient cannot avoid the situation, so they will learn that their phobia is not as scary as they think it is, and their anxiety will subside.

Question 11

Behavioural Treatments - Strengths

Answer 11

• Supporting evidence from Lang and Lazovik (1963) - studied systematic desensitisation with students with a phobia of snakes. Used 11 sessions of treatment, using hyponosis to keep them relaxed. Their levels of fear were reduced, and this continued six months later.
• Supporting evidence from Rothbaum et al. (2000) - gave eight sessions of VRET to those with a phobia or flying. After treatment, they agreed to a real flight, and their anxiety levels were lower than a control group’s.
• Systematic desensitisation is a useful technique compared to flooding, as it is less traumatic, the patient has more control of their treatment, and involves less ethical issues.
• Flooding may be more useful in some respects as it is a quicker, and less expensive technique.

Question 12

Behavioural Treatments - Limitations

Answer 12

• Flooding may cause trauma for patients, it is concerned with some ethical issues.
• Alternative treatments, such as biological ones may be more useful and efficient. The use of drugs is a quicker, and easier process, and is less emotionally shocking and demanding for patients.