Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias Flashcards
(16 cards)
key assumptions of behavioural approach to treating phobias
- phobias can be treated using the principles of classical conditioning
- counter conditioning replaces the learnt feared response with a relaxation process
- the process of counter conditioning can occur through: systematic desensitisation and intense flooding
what is systematic desensitisation
- a technique where phobics were given an opportunity to learn that their feared stimukus poses no threat by gradually being exposed to it
- patient is taught to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response of relaxation instead of fear so that their anxiety and fear and reduced and therefore ‘desensitised’
what theory does systematic desensitisation work upon
reciprical inhibition - theory that two opposing emotional states cannot exists at the same time
how many therapy sessions is required for systematic desensitisation
between 4-12 sessions dependingon the severity of the phobia
summarise a systematic desensitisation therapy session
- partient is taught relaxation techniques Eg: slow breathing
- patient and therapist make a fear heirarchy - bottom would be what pateint is most comfortable with top would be what creats the most fear/anxiety
- patient is gradually exposed to each scenario either imaging the situation ( in viro) or through phsyical exposure (in vivo). move up the heriarchy once they become comfortable wit hthe situation
strength: effective
I: systematic desensitisation hs been found to be an effective treatment
E: research (Barlow et al) has found a 60% to 90% success rate for clients treated for spider phobia and injection phobia
87% of patients who suffered from panic attcks were panic free after SD (Klosko)
C: suggests that it is an effective technique for removing phobias and anxiety
strength: fast
I: systematic desensitisation is relatively fast and easy to administer
E: therapistis do not require a great deal of training to administer SD and the therapy also requires less input from the patient compared to other psychologicl therapies like REBT. meaning useful when treating children with phobias and indivudals with learning difficulties
C: this makes it accessible to a wide range of individuals
weakness: limited
I: systematic desensitisation is only appropraite and effective for a limited number of phobias
E: SD is not effective for phobias that have not developed through a perosnal epxierience (CC), such as a fear of snakes. it is not effective for phobias rhat have an evolutionary basis and are innate Eg: fear of the dark
C: this means that it may not be a suitable therapy for certain phobias and alternative
strength: ethical
I: systematic desensitisation is more ethical and preferable to flooding
E: this is becuase it does not produce the same levels of distress that can occur when presented directly with the fear-inducing stimulus. this is reflected in the high numbers of patients that persist with this therapy when start, it has low refusal and low drop out rtes aswell
C: it does notbreak the B.P.S code of conduct ans is practiced by many psychologists
what is flooding
- forced and prolonged exposure to the actual fear in one session
- the individual is unable to avoid the phobic stimulus and works by replacing a fear response with a new response of relaxation
how does flooding work
- fear response will active that sympathetic branch of the ANS to release adrenaline into the blood stream increasing heart and breathing rate
- once the state of arousal has been reached the parasympthetic branch will reverse the effects after a short while, decreasing adrenaline ans the fear response between the phobic stimuls will fade
- new stimulus response association between the phobic stimulus and relaxation will have been learned
what is implosion therapy
- 1960’s a modified version of flooding
- patietns are given detialed descriptions rathr than actual exposure of the situations that they feared. for 6-9 continous hours
- modern day techniques now iclude virtual reality as actualy exposure to some phobic objects may be impossible
Wolpe 1973
- took a girl who was scared of cars and drove her around for hours
- initially she was hysterical but she eventually calmed down once she relaised her situation was safe
- then associated a sense of ease with cars
strength: effective
I: flooding is more effective and quicker than systematic desensitisation
E: Marshall et al found higher success rates for patients with snake phobias when treated with flooding compared to SD, with the most successful cases invloving in vivo flooding
treatment does not need to be more than one session usually whereas SD requires several making it more cost effective
C: means that it may be preffered over systematic desensitiastion for phobias which need to be treated quickly
weakness: traumatic
I: flooding can be a highly traumatic procedure
E: procedure involves creating a heightended state of anxiety in patients which can be extremely distressing. Although patients are made aware of this before hand, they may be unprepared or underestimate how anxious they may feels, meaning they do not complete the procedure
C: this means that it may be unethical and not suitable for people who do not want to experience high levels of anxiety Eg: children
general weakness: symptom
I: behavioural therapies are likley to produce symptom substitution
E: flooding and SD only work by removing the symptoms and do not adress the actual cause of the disorder. it is possible that the symptoms will reappear later, but in a differnt form ( another phobia or mental disorder)
C: other therapies which involve treating the cause of the phobia such as the psychodynamic approach may be mroesuccessful in the long term
