Systematic desensitisation

    Cards (5)

    • Supporting research
      Found that 75% of patients reported the systematic desensitisation worked compared to 33% of patients with similar phobias who said that drug treatments worked.
    • Quick and requires less effort
      This is because more people are likely to continue with the therapy and therefore more likely to succeed.
    • Doesn’t seem to work as well with phobias of dangerous animals
      This is because we may be biologically prepared to have a fear of certain animals/situations. This may be because of an evolutionary survival strategy.
    • Not always effective
      This is because it treats the symptoms of the phobia and not the cause of it. This is because if the cause of the problem is not treated, the symptoms may resurface as a different phobia.
    • Not effective due to individual differences
      Systematic desensitisation relies on the client's ability to be able to imagine the fearful situation. Some people cannot create a vivid image in their minds.
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