Psychopathology: The behavioural approach for treating phobias Flashcards
What are the two treatments for phobias?
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
How does systematic desensitisation + flooding work?
A client is is gradually exposed or imagines an extreme form of the threatening situation until anxiety reaction is distinguished.
Both therapies involve counterconditioning where a fear response to an object or situation is replaced with a relaxation response —> a form of classical conditioning. Achieved through either a slow process of gradual exposure or one single intense exposure.
The treatment is complete when the patient can relax in the presence of the feared stimulus.
Who developed the technique of systematic desensitisation?
Wolpe (1958)
What are the 3 parts of systematic desensitisation?
1) Counter conditioning
2) Teaching the patient relaxation techniques
3) Desensitisation hierarchy
What is counter conditioning?
Where a fear response to an object or situation is replaced with a relaxation response.
How does teaching the patient relaxation techniques occur
The therapist will ask the patient to focus on their breathing, being mindful and visualising a peaceful setting. Progressive muscle relaxation is also used where one muscle is relaxed at a time.
What is the desensitisation hierarchy?
Patient is gradually exposed to different degrees of the stimulus e.g. picture of a spider, spider from a distance then a spider close up.
At each stage patient practices relaxation so the situation becomes more familiar, less overwhelming and their anxiety diminishes.
How does flooding differ from systematic desensitisation?
Patient is immediately exposed to worst (within reason) form of phobia for an extended period of time. Process continued until anxiety disappears.
What are the 2 categories of flooding?
In vivo – real life
In vitro – simulated/ imagined
What is rationale?
Fear response has a time limit. As adrenaline levels will naturally decrease a new stimulus response is learned —> the feared stimulus is now associated with the non-anxious response.
What are the 4 AO3 points for the behavioural approach for treating phobias
+Systematic desensitisation is effective
+Flooding has the same effectiveness as SD
-Not effective for all phobias
-Individual differences
(+AO3) Why is systematic desensitisation effective?
Additional research has shown that SD is 75% effective with the key element being actual contact with the feared stimulus thus making In Vivo is more successful.
However in vitro and modelling a non-fearful response can also be effective. Therefore, demonstrating the effectiveness of SD but also the value of using a range of different exposure techniques.
(+AO3) How does flooding have the same effectiveness as systematic desensitisation?
Research suggests it is ~ same effectiveness as SD. Only works if patient does wait until fear response is reduced. Very cost and time effective.
(-AO3) Why is systematic desensitisation and flooding not effective for all phobias?
SD is good for phobias learned from personal experience but not as useful for evolutionary phobias e.g. heights. Counterconditioning only good for conditioned phobias
(-AO3) How do individual differences effect the treatments of phobias?
Different fear responses for different people and phobias. Can be a traumatic procedure causing some participants to quit halfway through and reduce effectiveness while also making phobias worse.
