PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 2

what are the 2 methods used to treat phobias

systematic desensitisation flooding

what is counterconditioning

unlearning maladaptive stimulus response bonds by replacing the CR of anxiety with relaxation

what is reciprocal inhibition

the idea that it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time

what are the 2 therapies based on

counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition

what is the pneumonic for systematic desensitisation

ARE

what does (A)RE stand for

anxiety hierarchy

what does A(R)E stand for

relaxation

what does AR(E) stand for

exposure

what is an anxiety hierarchy

a list of phobic stimuli in order of level of fear it causes

what does relaxation mean in terms of SD

use of taught relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises

what does exposure mean in terms of SD

gradual exposure working through the hierarchy

what is flooding

the direct confrontation of feared stimuli

outline what occurs during flooding

client exposes themselves to phobic stimuli until extinction

what is extinction in terms of flooding

patient cannot avoid phobia anxiety peaks but cannot be maintained so subsides

what two ways can exposure be done

in vivo in vitro

what is in vivo exposure

an image of the feared object

what is in vitro exposure

presenting the feared object itself

what is a strength of flooding

its cost effective in comparison to SD

what is a weakness of flooding

flooding causes high distress in comparison to SD which leads to high drop out rates

what is a strength of SD

mcgrath et al found that 75% respond well to SD and its more preferred and tolerated

what is a weakness of SD

its not effective in treating phobias derived from evolutionary mechanisms such as fear of heights

what is the two process model

the idea that phobias are acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning

how are phobias acquired

a traumatic experience causing the CS to be generalised to similar objects/situations

how are phobias maintained

negative reinforcement avoidance behaviour leads to removal of fear responses

what is a weakness of the two process model

its environmentally reductionist and ignores the role of biological preparedness in development of phobias

what is a strength of the two process model

led to the development of effective treatments