Phobias

Question 1

What is the DSM 5 of phobias?

Answer 1

Fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation
Phobic object almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety
Phobic object or situation is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety
Fear or anxiety is set out of proportion to the actual danger
Fear, anxiety or avoidance is persistent for more than 6 months
Impacts functioning
Disturbance not explained by other mental disorders

Question 2

What are the stimulus and responses in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 2

US - mouse/rat
CS - mouse/rat
UR - Nothing
CR - fear
NS - loud noise

Question 3

What is involved systematic desensitisation with treating phobias?

Answer 3

Patients are taught relaxation techniques and breathing exercises
Patient creates a fear hierarchy, starting with the least provoking images
Patient works up the fear hierarchy. Rates the dear 1-100
If client becomes upset, they return to the previous stage

Question 4

What is involved in flooding with treating phobias?

Answer 4

More extreme behavioural therapy
Person is exposed to the most frightening situation immediately
A person is unable to avoid their phobia and through continuous exposure, anxiety levels decrease
Can be done using VR