behaviourist treatment of phobias

• What are the two main methods of treating phobias mentioned?

  Systematic desensitisation and flooding
• What is systematic desensitisation?

  • A behavioural treatment for phobias
  • Involves relaxation and a hierarchy of fears
  • Gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus
• What is flooding in the context of phobia treatment?

  • Intense exposure to the phobic stimulus
  • No escape allowed during the exposure
  • Anxiety subsides after prolonged exposure
• How does flooding work to treat phobias?

  It prevents avoidance responses and reduces anxiety
• What happens when a patient relaxes during flooding?

  A new association is formed with relaxation
• Who conducted a study on arachnophobia in 2002?

  Gilroy et al.
• What was the outcome of Gilroy et al.'s study on systematic desensitisation?

  Patients were less fearful than the control group
• What percentage of participants showed improvement after one session of flooding?

  80%
• What is a key feature of systematic desensitisation?

  It involves a graduated exposure to fears
• What are the key features of flooding and systematic desensitisation?

  Flooding:

  • Intense exposure
  • No escape allowed
  • High anxiety subsides

  
  

  Systematic Desensitisation:

  • Graduated exposure
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Hierarchy of fear
• What is the purpose of creating a hierarchy of fears?

  To gradually expose the patient to fears
• What is reciprocal inhibition in systematic desensitisation?

  Fear and relaxation cannot coexist
• How is systematic desensitisation conducted?

  Through relaxation techniques and exposure hierarchy
• What is the first step in systematic desensitisation?

  The patient is taught relaxation techniques
• How does the patient progress through the hierarchy in systematic desensitisation?

  Gradually, using relaxation techniques at each step
• What is the main goal of behaviourist treatments for phobias?

  To create a new association with relaxation
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of behaviourist treatments for phobias?

  Strengths:

  • Effective for specific phobias
  • Evidence supports their effectiveness

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • May be traumatic (flooding)
  • Not suitable for all individuals
• How would you treat a phobia of spiders using systematic desensitisation?

  By creating a fear hierarchy and gradual exposure
• Why might systematic desensitisation be more successful than flooding?

  It allows gradual progress at the client's pace
• What are the ethical considerations in flooding therapy?

  • Potential for trauma
  • Informed consent is crucial
  • Suitability for different age groups
• What is the main principle behind both behaviourist treatments for phobias?

  They use classical conditioning principles
• What does 'in vivo' and 'in vitro' refer to in treatment?

  Real exposure vs. imagined exposure
• How does the patient experience flooding therapy?

  Immediate, intense exposure without escape
• What is the role of relaxation techniques in systematic desensitisation?

  • Helps manage anxiety during exposure
  • Facilitates the process of reciprocal inhibition
  • Essential for effective treatment outcomes
• Who developed systematic desensitisation?

  Wolpe in 1958
• What is the purpose of the functional analysis in systematic desensitisation?

  To create a hierarchy of fear levels
• How does the patient use relaxation techniques during exposure?

  To maintain calm while facing fears
• What is the aim of behaviourist treatments for phobias?

  • To extinguish the phobic response
  • To create new associations with relaxation
  • To enable patients to face their fears
• What is the aim of the lesson on phobias?

  To discuss behaviourist treatment of phobias
• What should students be able to describe by the end of the lesson?

  The behavioural approach to treating phobias
• What is one method of treating phobias mentioned in the lesson?

  Systematic desensitisation
• What is the purpose of creating a hierarchy of fears for phobias?

  To gradually expose the patient to fears
• How does flooding work in treating phobias?

  It prevents avoidance responses during exposure
• What happens to anxiety levels during flooding?

  Anxiety rises but cannot be maintained
• What new association is formed during flooding?

  Between the phobic stimulus and relaxation
• Who conducted a study on arachnophobia in 2002?

  Gilroy et al.
• What was the outcome of Gilroy et al.'s study on systematic desensitisation?

  Less fear in the treatment group
• What percentage of participants showed improvement after one session of flooding?

  80%
• What is a key feature of systematic desensitisation?

  Graduated exposure to fears
• What are the key features of flooding?

  • Intense exposure to phobic stimulus
  • No escape allowed
  • Anxiety subsides over time