Treating phobias: behavioural approach

two methods of treating phobias (behavioural approach)

systematic desensitisation and flooding

systematic desensitisation

behavioural therapy designed to reduce phobias through classical conditioning (counter-conditioning also leads to extinction)

process of systematic desensitisation

anxiety hierarchy, relaxation and exposure

anxiety hierarchy

a list of situations designed to provoke phobic anxiety. it's arranged from least to most frightening and is created by the patient and their therapist

relaxation

the patient is taught to relax so that reciprocal inhibition takes place.

examples of relaxing

meditation, breathing, drugs etc

reciprocal inhibition

it's not possible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time as one emotion prevents the other.

exposure

the client is exposed to the phobic stimulus in a relaxed state. this happens across multiple sessions, travelling up to the hierarchy. you can only move onto the next stage if you've reached a state of relaxation in the current stage.

systematic desensitisation is successful when..

the patient can relax in the highest stage

research support for SD - gilroy et al

followed up 42 people who had systematic desensitisation for arachnophobia. at 3 and 33 months, the SD groups were less fearful than a control group treated by relaxation without exposure

strength of SD - appropriateness

it can be used on people with learning difficulties. these people often struggle with cognitive treatments like therapies that require complex, rational thought. they may also get confused/distressed by more traumatic therapies like flooding

limitations of SD - costly and time consuming

it can be more expensive and more time consuming due to the unpredictable number of sessions that may be needed. it wouldn't be suitable for people who are looking for a quick fix

limitations of SD - symptom subsitution

SD doesn't tackle the underlying causes of the phobia as it only masks the symptoms of anxiety, unlike cognitive treatments such as CBT

flooding

a behavioural therapy designed to reduce phobia by immediate, huge exposure

process of flooding

immediate exposure to phobic stimulus with no hierarchy. it uses counter-conditioning, which leads to the extinction of the phobia (as it takes a lot of energy to be in a high state of arousal, so eventually you'll relax)

counter-conditioning

a type of classical conditioning where you learn a new association to a phobic stimulus but it removes the original association to the phobic stimulus

ethical safeguards of flooding

clients must give fully informed consent and be prepared as the effect of flooding can be extremely traumatic

strength of flooding - cost-effective, more accessible

fewer sessions than SD, in some cases only 1 session is needed. therefore it's much cheaper, meaning it's more accessible

limitation of flooding - traumatic

it's an unpleasant experience and produces much more anxiety than SD. it also leads to higher drop-out rates, which can leave the patients more traumatised as the therapy is incomplete

limitation of flooding - symptom masking

doesn't tackle the underlying causes of the phobia unlike the cognitive approach as it only masks the symptoms