Behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
What is systematic desensitisation?
Is a behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobia anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning.
The idea is for the suffer to learn to relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus, then they will be cured.
Essentially a new response to the stimulus is learned – counterconditioning.
What are the three processes of SD?
- anxiety hierarchy
- relaxation
- exposure
Explain the 1st step of systematic desensitisation.
ANXIETY HIERARCHY
- an anxiety hierarchy is made by both patient and therapist
- list of situations related to phobia that cause anxiety, in order of least to most scary
Explain the 2nd step of systematic desensitisation
RELAXATION
- therapist teaches patient some relaxation techniques
- eg. breathing exercises, guided imagery, meditation, etc.
- reciprocal inhibition - impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents the other.
Define the term reciprocal inhibition.
A technique that aims to replace an undesired response with a desired one by counterconditioning.
What is an alternative way relaxation can be achieved?
Using drugs such as Valium.
Explain the 3rd step of systematic desensitisation.
EXPOSURE
- patient is exposed to phobic stimulus when relaxed
- takes place across several sessions, starting from bottom of hierarchy
- when patient can stay relaxed at each stage the therapist goes up a level
What happens when exposure is successful + specific name
- extinction
- when treatment is successful patient can stay relaxed in situations high on anxiety hierarchy
What is a strength of systematic desensitisation?
Evidence of effectiveness
It can be used to help people with learning disabilities.
What is the evidence for the effectiveness of systematic desensitisation?
Gilroy et al (2003) followed up 42 patients who have been treated for spider phobia in three 45mins sessions of systematic desensitisation
Control group treated by relaxation without exposure
At both 3 months and 33 months after the treatment, the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than the relaxation group.
How can systematic desensitisation help people with learning disability?
People with learning disabilities often struggle with cognitive therapies that require complex rational thoughts. They may also feel confused and distressed by traumatic experience of flooding.
What is flooding?
A behavioural therapy where a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by stimulus. This takes place across a small number of long therapy sessions.
How does flooding work?
Flooding stops phobic responses very quickly, because it tries to eliminate the option of avoidance behaviour.
Patient learns quickly that the stimulus is harmless – called extinction.
In some cases, relaxation in the presence of the phobic stimulus can be achieved.
What are the ethical safeguards?
It’s unpleasant experiments so clients must give their informed consent and that they’re fully prepared before session. A client would normally be given the choice of systematic desensitisation.
What is a strength of flooding?
Cost-effective.
Flooding can work in as little as one session as opposed to 10 for SD to achieve the same result. Even allowing for a longer session.
