behavioural approach to treating phobias

what are the two ways of treating phobias

1. systematic desenstitsation

2. flooding

AO1 systematic desenstisation

1. behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning

2. if the sufferer can learn to relax in the presence of phobic stimulus they will be cured as a new response is learnt (counterconditioning)

3. An anxiety hierarchy is created, ranking phobic situations from most to least frightening

4. therapist teachers patient to relax as much as possible, or relaxation drugs can also be used

5. patient is then exposed to phobic stimuli while in a relaxed state

6. this takes place over several sessions and when patient can stay calm they move up the hierarchy

evaluation points for systematic desensitisation

1. supporting research of treatment of phobias

2. prefer it to flooding

evaluation systematic desensitisation - supporting research

P: research shows that systematic desensitisation is effective in the treatment of specific phobias

E: Gilroy followed up 42 patients who has been treated using SD for a spider phobia with three 45 minute sessions

E: at 3 and 33 months after treatment the SD group was less fearful than control group

L: this is a strength because it shows that SD is helpful in reducing the anxiety in spider phobia and the effects are long lasting

evaluation - prefer SD than flooding

P: a strength of SD is that patients prefer to to flooding

E: this is because it does not have the same degree of trauma

E: it may also be because SD includes some elements that are pleasant, such as relaxation

L: this is reflected in low refusal rate and low attribution rates of SD

outline AO1 flooding

1. behavioural therapy that involves immediate and intense exposure to the phobic stimulus

2. flooding works by preventing avoidance, this is because the conditioned fear response cannot be maintained

3. during flooding the fear response peaks and then decreases naturally as patient becomes exhausted by their own anxiety

4. sessions are typically long (2-3hours) but most patients only require one session

5. flooding is not unethical but it is an unpleasant experience

6. therefore informed consent is essential and patients must be full prepared for the intensity of the procedure before beginning

evaluation points flooding

1. flooding as effective

2. not as effective for complex phobias such as social

evaluation - flooding as effective

P: flooding is as effective as other treatments for specific phobias

E: studies comparing flooding to cognitive therapies found that flooding is hugely effective and quicker than alternatives

L: this quick effect is a strength because it means that patients are free of their symptoms as soon as possible making treatment cheaper

evaluation - flooding as less effective (social phobia)

P: although flooding is highly effective at treating specific phobias, it appears to be less so for more complex phobias like social phobias

E: this may be because social phobias have cognitive aspects; a sufferer does not simply experience an anxiety response but thinks unpleasant thoughts about the social situation

L: this type of phobias may benefit from cognitive therapies to tackle the irrational thinking