PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - The behavioural approach to treating phobias

Flooding

This is when the individual is put into direct contact with the phobic stimulus for a prolonged period of time

Systematic desensitisation

a therapy technique used to allow the individual to relax in the presence of a phobic stimulus by gradually reducing their phobic anxiety.

what are the three levels to systematic desensitisation

1. hierarchy - this is the level of Anxiety in the presence of similar phobic stimuluses in order of the level of Anxiety

2. relaxation - this is the therapist teaching the individual relaxation techniques such as counting down or meditation

3. exposure - this is exposing the phobic stimulus to the individual and allowing them to practise using their relaxation techniques

   this usually takes 6-7 sessions and the treatment is successful when they are able to be in a relaxed state in contact with the phobic stimulus at the highest level of the hierarchy.

what is a strength of flooding

1. cost effective

2. treats the phobia with immediate effect and quickly allowing for multiple clients a day and more people being treated

what is a limitation of flooding

1. highly traumatic as the individual is exposed to their phobic stimulus in an intense and uncontrolled manner, which can lead to increased anxiety and possible avoidance of treatment.

2. ethical issues

3. higher drop out rates than with SD

strengths of Systematic desensitisation

1. can be used in VR

2. high success rate

who was the researcher for systematic desensitisation

Gilroy

what was gilroy’s Research

1. followed up 44 people who attended SD for a spider phobia

2. found that the SD group were less scared than a control group at both 3 and 33 months.