Psychopathology - Treating Phobias

• Systematic desensitisation


  Gradual exposure to the feared stimulus to reduce fear
• Flooding


  Immediate exposure to the feared stimulus to reduce fear
• Counter conditioning


  Unlearning the maladaptive response by associating the feared stimulus with a positive response
• Systematic desensitisation


  1. Fear hierarchy

  2. Relaxation training

  3. Reciprocal inhibition
• Hierarchy of feared stimuli


  • Stroking a dog
  • Going to a park with a dog
  • Watching a real life dog show
  • Watching a cartoon dog show
  • Looking at a picture of a dog
• Levels of fear hierarchy: 90, 80, 50, 40, 30
• Relaxation techniques


  Breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, mental imagery
• Two emotional states cannot co-exist, reciprocal inhibition
• Relaxation should overtake the fear, patient starts at the bottom of the hierarchy and gradually progresses