how to TREAT phobias

Question 1

what are the behavioural treatments for phobias?

Answer 1

• systematic desensitasion
• flooding

Question 2

what is systematic desensitisation based on

Answer 2

• classical conditoning
  (counter conditioning)

replacing the conditioned response (fear) with relaxation

Question 3

what is reciprocal inhibition

Answer 3

is the idea that two opposite cannot coexist (fear and relaxation cannot be present at the same time)

Question 4

first step of systematic desentisation

Answer 4

• relaxtion techniques
  breathing exercises
  visualisation of pleasant scenary

this idea is reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system which produces the fight or flight response and instead activate the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 5

2nd step of SD

Answer 5

• anxiety hierarchy
  the patient and the therapist work to create an anxiety hierarchy (arranging the phobia in a particular order of intensity from least to most frightening)

Question 6

what is the last step of SD

Answer 6

gradual exposure
as they have worked through each level anxiety hierarchy ensuring relaxation at each level the patient until the reach the highest intensity on the anxiety hierarchy

Question 7

what other type of SD

Answer 7

• virtual reality exposure therapy
  invitro form of SD
  they can face each level of their anxiety hierarchy with the added level of control and saftey of virtual reality

Question 8

what does ‘flooding’ entail

Answer 8

• the immediate direct exposure of the feared stimulus to the patient

Question 9

what behaviourist idea are phobias based on

Answer 9

• extinction
  this prevents avoidance of the feared stimulus after the initial fear response has subsided the phobia will run into extinction

Question 10

Supporting evidence of the treatment of phobias (SD)

Answer 10

Case study of Little peter
Jones et al (1924) cured peter of his rabbit phobia through techniques of SD
Lang et al
1963
- Students , 11 session, relaxation technique of hypnosis they found ratings of fear was reduced and it was found to have a lasting effect even up to 6 months later

Question 11

Systematic disensitsation vs flooding

Answer 11

SD
- less traumatic that flooding for the patients because of gradual exposure and relaxation techniques can be pleasant to the patient
- more successful than flooding as it allows patients to make progress in small steps and in their own time rather than being required by the therapist the patient is therefore in control ,more people to access treatment and find it more successful

flooding - ethical issues
being presented with fear dramatically can actually reinforce phobias if flooding is ended too soon
cost effective and less time consuming

Question 12

Alternative treatments for phobias

Answer 12

• biological treatment medication (beta blockers)
  reduces phsyiological response that individuals have to fear
  -no traumatic experience
• less time consuming
  medication can produce side effects and doesn’t treat the causation so they are not long term solutions
  perhaps the combined approach of SD and drug treatment may be a more optimal approach to the treatment of phobias