Psychopathology- behavioural treatments for phobias

What are the 2 behavioural treatment methods for phobias?

Systematic desensitisation and flooding

Upon which principle is systematic desensitisation based?

Counter-conditioning

What are the 3 stages involved in systematic desensitisation?

The phobic patient learns deep muscle relaxation techniques. Secondly, the patient works alongside the therapist in order to generate an anxiety hierarchy. Finally, there is the stage of exposure in which the patient is gradually exposed to their fear according to the hierarchy whilst using the relaxation techniques that they have learned.

What is meant by an anxiety hierarchy?

A series of imagined scenes, each one causing a little more anxiety than the previous one

What is meant by reciprocal inhibition?

You cannot feel anxious and calm at the same time.

How quickly does systematic desensitisation occur?

It depends on the pace of the client

How does a client know that they have overcome their phobia?

They will reach the top of the hierarchy and be able to feel relaxed in response to the phobic stimulus.

What is flooding?

A method that involves exposing the patient to the stimulus causing their phobia but without the use of the anxiety hierarchy used in systematic desensitisation.

What is a benefit of flooding over systematic desensitisation?

It is a fast method

What are the two methods of flooding that can be used and what is meant by these?

In vivo methods in which the person is exposed to the real phobic stimulus and in vitro methods in which the person is exposed to their phobic stimulus through imagery e.g. a virtual reality program.

What is a strength of systematic desensitisation?

It has shown success when used with patients suffering from phobias. This would suggest that behaviourist principles are correct in how phobias are acquired so can be used to eradicate the symptoms. Empirical evidence in support is shown by Gilroy et al. who found that arachnophobes experiencing systematic desensitisation were more likely to overcome their phobia compared with a group experiencing relaxation techniques after a 33-month period.

Who found that systematic desensitisation has long-term success using fear ratings of snakes?

Lang and Lazovik

How long did Lang and Lazovik find systematic desensitisation was effective for?

At least 6 months

Why is systematic desensitisation arguably better than flooding?

Offers greater suitability to a more diverse range of people e.g. those with learning difficulties than other treatment methods such as flooding. It is also less stressful than other types of therapies so is considered ethical as the patient has a high degree of control over the pace of progression in order to reduce anxiety.

What is one benefit of systematic desensitisation over CBT?

It is more cost effective and can offer a much faster response

What type of phobia is systematic desensitisation effective for and what type is it not effective for?

Effective for specific phobias but not for social.

What ethical issues arise with flooding and why?

Protection of participants and consent as it can lead to rapid increases in heart rate as the person experiences more extreme forms of anxiety compared with systematic desensitisation. It is for this reason that medical supervision is required, and consent must be gained beforehand.

With what type of flooding would ethical issues be even more likely?

In vivo

Flooding would not be suitable for what group of people?

Those with prior health conditions e.g. a heart condition due to the intense anxiety created upon exposure without a gradual hierarchical progression.

Why might flooding not be suitable as a treatment method for phobias?

Research has shown that patients do not always follow through on the treatment because of the extreme anxiety generated and this can also put them off future treatment methods. This can both waste money and leave the patient with more lasting damage given that they may refuse further treatment.