Systematic densisitation eval

• What is strength (supported by research)

  -Gilroy et al. (2003) studied 42 patients who had SD as a treatment for their spider phobia over three 45 minutes sessions

  -She found that at both 3 and 33 months they were less fearful and more in control of their phobia compared to the control group, who had not had any SD therapy

  -This supports the effectiveness of SD as a treatment for phobias
• What is a weakness? (only treats symptoms not causes)

  -only treats observable measurable symptoms of phobias meaning cognitions and emotions which are often motivators of behaviour are ignored

  -This inability to address the cause of the phobia means that the phobia may return

  -Thus SD has limited usefulness
• What is another weakness? (cannot deal with phobia outside of therapy)

  -Some patients may struggle to deal with the phobia outside of the therapy sessions

  -They may not be able to apply what they have learned to real, everyday situations, particularly without guidance from the therapist

  -This reduces the external validity of the theory behind the treatment
• What is another weakness? (vivid imagination)

  -SD relies on a person being able to imagine the fearful situation.

  -some people cannot create vivid images required for this to work

  -therefore may not be a valid treatment for everyone
• what is a strength (less trauma)

  -sd is preferred by most patients as it is less traumatic

  -no ethical objections to SD as clients have control over treament

  -therefore people are less likely to drop out and there is a low attrition rate