the behavioural approach to treating phobias

what is systematic desensitisation?

• behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning

• by pairing relaxation w/ phobic stimulus

what is counterconditioning?

• replacing an undesirable response to a stimulus w/ a desirable response

• forms the basis of the technique of reciprocal inhibition

what are the 3 stages of systematic desensitisation?

1. anxiety hierarchy

2. relaxation

3. exposure

what is the anxiety hierarchy?

list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety, arranged in order from least to most frightening

give some examples of relaxation in systematic desensitisation:

• breathing exercises

• mental imagery techniques

• meditation

• medication

describe the exposure stage of systematic desensitisation:

• patient exposed to (situation related to) phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state

• it is only once in this relaxed state that therapist will allow you to move to next situation

• can be achieved through in vitro desensitisation (imagining scenarios) or in vivo desensitisation (real contact)

give 4 strengths of systematic desensitisation:

• Gilroy et al. (2002)

• McGrath et al. (1990)

• more suitable than flooding/complex cognitive therapies for those w/ learning disabilities as simpler (and causes less distress) ∴ more accessible for all. relaxing techniques applicable to other scenarios

• low drop out rates

summarise Gilroy et al. (2002) as a strength of SD:

• sample of 42 patients w/ arachnophobia: 1 group control, other treated w/ SD

• after 3 and 33 months, SD group less fearful (assessed by observed response to spider and questionnaire)

• ∴ SD effective and long lasting

summarise McGrath et al. (1990) as a strength of SD:

75% of patients w/ phobias successfully treated w/ SD, especially w/ in vivo

give 1 limitation of systematic desensitisation:

Ohman et al. (1975) - patients w/ phobias developed through evolution (rather than classical conditioning) not effectively treated w/ SD

what is flooding?

• patients have contact w/ their phobic stimulus and are prohibited from escaping

• based on the idea that anxiety cannot be maintained at such high levels and so eventually subsides: extinction

give 3 strengths of flooding:

• cost effective - Ougrin (2011)

• short term - only takes one, or a few sessions

• not unethical as ppts gave informed consent

give 3 limitations of flooding:

• less effective for some phobias e.g. social phobia/agoraphobia

• traumatic and arguably unethical due to lack of protection from harm

• Schumacher et al. (2015) - ppts rated flooding as significantly more stressful than systematic desensitisation