(A01) Behavioural Treatment of Phobias

• Systematic desensitisation

  Behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobias anxiety through principle of classical conditioning
• Counterconditioning


  A new response to the phobic stimulus is learned (phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety) - different responses are learnt
• Reciprocal inhibition


  It's impossible to feel afraid and relaxed at the same time so one emotion prevents the other
• Anxiety Hierarchy


  A list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged from least to most frightening. This is put together by the therapist and patient
• Relaxation


  Therapist teaches patient to be relaxed. This can be done through breathing exercises or mental imagery techniques. Drugs like Valium can also be used
• Exposure


  Patient exposed to phobic stimulus in a relaxed state takes place across several sessions starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy
• Flooding

  Exposing phobic patients to their phobic stimulus but without gradual build-up in the anxiety hierarchy-Immediate exposure to a frightening situation. Last typically longer than systematic desensitisation and one long session can cure a phobia
• How does flooding work?

  Flooding stops phobic stimulus very quickly possibly because there is a prevention of avoidance behaviour causing the patient to quickly learn the phobic stimulus is harmless- called extinction in classical conditioning
• Extinction

  A learned response is extinguished when conditioning stimulus is encountered without unconditioned stimulus. This leads to the conditioned response not being produced. Relaxation may occur sometimes as patient becomes exhausted due to fear response
• Ethical safeguards


  Flooding is an unpleasant experience so patients must give informed consent to this traumatic procedure and that they are fully prepared