Treatment

• How does systematic desensitisation aim to cure phobic anxiety?

  By teaching relaxation in the presence of phobic stimuli
• What is counterconditioning in the context of SD?

  Learning a new response to the phobic stimulus
• What are the three processes involved in systematic desensitisation?

  1. Anxiety hierarchy creation
  2. Relaxation training
  3. Exposure to phobic stimulus
• What is the anxiety hierarchy in SD?

  A list of anxiety-provoking situations
• What techniques can be used for relaxation in SD?

  Breathing exercises and mental imagery techniques
• What is the purpose of exposure in SD?

  To expose the patient to the phobic stimulus
• When is treatment considered successful in SD?

  When the patient stays relaxed in high anxiety situations
• How does flooding differ from systematic desensitisation?

  Flooding involves immediate exposure without hierarchy
• How does flooding help in stopping phobic responses?

  By eliminating avoidance behavior and showing harmlessness
• Why might a patient achieve relaxation during flooding?

  They may become exhausted by their fear response
• What ethical considerations are important for flooding?

  Patients must give informed consent and be prepared
• What challenges do patients with learning difficulties face with flooding or cognitive therapies?

  Difficulty understanding or engaging with therapy
• What types of phobias may not respond well to systematic desensitisation?

  Phobias with evolutionary survival components
• Why is the quick effect of flooding considered a strength?

  Patients are free of symptoms sooner
• What is a benefit of patients being free of symptoms quickly?

  It makes treatment cheaper
• What is a limitation of Flooding therapy?

  It can be highly traumatic so informed consent is needed
• Why might SD and flooding be inappropriate for some phobias?

  Ohman’s study suggested that some phobias are due to human survival instincts