Flooding

• Flooding

  1. Extinction
  2. Ethical safeguards
• Flooding - also involves exposure but without the gradual build up of the anxiety hierarchy
• Extinction

  • removes possibility of avoidance meaning patients are forced to learn that the phobic stimulus is harmless
  • CS is extinguished when CS is present without UCS
• Ethical safeguards

  • flooding is not unethical but is unpleasant, so patients need to give fully informed consent
• (F) + Cost effective

  • is it highly effective and much quicker than other methods meaning faster recovery and cheaper treatment

  --> reduced financial burden on the NHS
• (F) - Less effective for some types of phobias

  • it's highly effective for simple phobias but less so for more complex ones (e.g. social) that may benefit more from treatment which tackles irrational thinking
• (F) - Treatment is traumatic for patients

  • it's not unethical but is traumatic so many patients dont see it through which is a waste of time, money and NHS resources

  --> low attrition rates