Behavioural approach to treating phobias

What is SD and what conditioning does it use

Systematic desensitisation

Classical conditioning

The aim of the therapy

Reducing anxiety through counterconditioning

What is counterconditioning

Phobia is learned so the phobic stimulus (CS) produces fear (CR)

CS is paired with relaxation and this becomes he new CR

What does reciprocal inhibition mean

Its not possible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents another

Formation of an anxiety hierarchy

Client and therapist arranged fearful stimuli in order from least to most frightening

e.g. a person with arachnophobia may have a picture of a small spider on the bottom and holding a tarantula as the last thing

Relaxation is practised at every level

Phobic is taught relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation

Person works though the anxiety hierarchy

Startng from the bottom, treatment is successful when the person can stay relaxed in high anxiety situations

One strength of SD is evidence of effectiveness

Gilroy et al. Followed up 42 people who had SD for spider phobia

At follow up SD group were less fearful than control group

Wechsler et al concluded SD is effective for specific phobia

This means SD is likely to be helpful for people with phobias

Another strength is usefulness for people with learning disabilities

Alternatives to SD are unsuitable for people with learning disabilities

e.g. cognitive therapies require high level of rational thoughts and flooding is distressing

SD doesn't require understanding or engagement on a cognitive level and is not a traumatic experience

This means SD is the most appropriate treatment for some people

SD in virtual reality

SD can B done in VR which avoids dangerous situations like heights and is cost effective

However VR may be less effective than real exposure to social phobias because it lacks realism (Wechsler et al)

SD using VR is sometimes but not always appropriate

Another form of treating phobias is

Flooding

What is flooding

Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus without a gradual build up

What is extinction

Without the option of avoidance the person quickly learns the phobic stimulus is harmless trough the exhaustion of their fear response

Ethical issues

Flooding is not unethical but it is unpleasant

People must be give informed consent and they must be fully prepared and know what to expect

One strength of flooding is its cost effective

It is clinically effective and not expensive

Can work in as little as one session

Even with a long session its more cost effective than alternatives

More people can be treated at the same cost by flooding than others

One limitation of flooding is its traumatic

Schumacher et al. found boh participants and therapists rated flooding as more stressful than SD

There are ethical concerns about knowingly causing stress

Suggests overall therapists may avoid this treatment