systematic desensistisation

• strength is the evidence base of effectiveness. Lisa Gillroy 2003 followed up with people who had SD for spider phobia in 3 45 minute sessions. At both 3 and 33 months she found that people who had gone through SD were less fearful than the control grip who were treated by relaxation without exposure. The recent review Theresa Wechsler 2019 concluded SD effective for phobia. This means it’s likely to help people with phobias.
• It is often used to help people with learning disabilities. Some people requiring treatment for phobias also have learning disabilities. Alternative to this treatment are not suitable as they often struggle with cognitive therapies as they require complex rational thoughts. They may feel confused and distressed by the process of flooding. This means that it is the most appropriate treatment for people with learning disabilities.
• Traditional SD involves the exposure to the phobic stimulus in an everyday session. But there are some advantages to doing it in VR as it can be used to avoid dangerous situations and is cost effective as you do not need to leave the consulting room. On the other hand, VR is at a disadvantage than real exposure for social phobias as it lacks realism.
• Traditional SD involves the exposure to the phobic stimulus in an everyday session. But there are some advantages to doing it in VR as it can be used to avoid dangerous situations and is cost effective as you do not need to leave the consulting room. On the other hand, VR is at a disadvantage than real exposure for social phobias as it lacks realism.
• Anxiety hierarchy:

  Created by patient and therapist. It is a list of phobias that cause anxiety arranged from least to most frightening.

  Relaxation:

  Therapist teaches patients to relax. This can be done using breathing exercises, mental imagery techniques, mediation or drugs such as Valium. It is based on the idea of reciprocal inhibition.
• Exposure:

  Patient is exposed to the phobic stimulus in a relaxed state over several short sessions. It uses the anxiety hierarchy bottom upwards. When patients stay relaxed in the presence of the lower levels, they can move up the hierarchy. Threatening is successful when the patients are able to remain relaxed in the presence of the higher levels.