Evaluation

• Evidence of effectiveness

  One strength of systematic desensitisation is the evidence base for its effectiveness:

  • Gilroy et al followed up 42 people who had SD for arachnophobia in three 45-minute sessions
  • At both 3 and 33 months, the SD group were less fearful than a control group treated by relaxation without exposure
  • Wechsler et al concluded that SD is effective for specific phobia, social phobia and agoraphobia
  • Therefore, SD is likely to be helpful for people with phobias
• People with learning disabilities


  One strength of SD is that it can be used to help people with learning disabilities:

  • The main alternatives to SD are not suitable to those with learning disabilities as they often struggle with cognitive therapies that require complex thought
  • They may also feel distressed by flooding
  • Therefore, SD is the most appropriate treatment for people with learning difficulties