treating phobias

• systematic desensitisation

  behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning

  if a person can learn to relax in the presence of a phobic stimulus they will be cured
• process of systematic desensitisation

  the anxiety hierarchy

  relaxation

  exposure
• the anxiety hierarchy

  put together by patient and therapist

  list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety

  list arranged in order from least to most frightening

  e.g. image of spider vs holding a tarantula
• relaxation

  therapist teaches client to relax as deeply as possible

  relaxation prevents the anxiety- reciprocal inhibition

  involves breathing exercises or mental imagery techniques

  clients taught to imagine themselves in relaxing situations

  learning meditation

  can be achieved using drugs
• exposure

  client is exposed to the phobic stimulus while in relaxed state

  takes place over several sessions

  starting at bottom of anxiety hierarchy

  treatment is successful when the client can stay relaxed in situations high on anxiety hierarchy
• strength of systematic desensitisation

  evidence of effectiveness

  people with learning difficulties
• Gilroy et al

  2003

  evidence of effectiveness of systematic desensitisation

  followed up 42 people who had SD for spider phobia

  at both 3 and 33 months the SD group were less fearful than control group of relaxation without exposure
• people with learning disabilities

  some people requiring treatments for phobias also have learning disabilities

  people with learning disabilities often struggle with cognitive therapies that require complex rational thought

  they may also feel distressed by flooding

  so SD is the most appropriate treatment