Psychopathology

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 1

A form of BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY used to treat PHOBIAS and other anxiety disorders. Client gradually exposed to (images) or real situations under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished

Question 2

How does Systematic desensitisation work?

Answer 2

Step 1: Patient taught how to relax their muscles completely. Step 2: Therapist and patient together construct a desensitisation hierarchy- series of imagined scenes, each one causing a little more anxiety. Step 3: Patient gradually works through the hierarchy, visualising each anxiety-provoking event while engaging in the competing relaxation response. Step 4: Once patient masters one step in the hierarchy (remain relaxed while imagining it), they are ready to move on to the next. Step 5: Patient eventually masters the feared situation that caused them to seek help in the first place.

Question 3

How does flooding work?

Answer 3

Step 1: Patient is taught how to relax their muscles completely. Step 2: Patient masters the feared response situation that caused them to seek help in the first place. This is accomplished in one long session.

Question 4

Rationale

Answer 4

A person’s fear response (and the release of adrenaline underlying this) has a time limit. As adrenaline levels naturally decrease, a new stimulus-response link can be learned; the feared stimulus is now associated with a non-anxious response.

Question 5

Definitions of abnormality

Answer 5

behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that deviate from what is considered normal or typical within a particular society or culture.