AO3: Treatments

• LIMITATION OF SD: Systematic desensitisation is a time-consuming + economical treatment as it requires the presence of a trained professional and lasts between 6-8 sessions, this means that it might be the most economically beneficial choice for health-care providers such as the NHS who are already under financial strain. Furthermore, systematic desensitisation cannot treat all phobias, such as fear of flying, as they cannot provide the phobic stimuli as necessary thus suggesting it to be limited in applicability.
• However, systematic desensitisation is found to have one of the highest-sign up an lowest drop out rates, and is proven to be the most preferable choices by individuals (barlow) opposed to flooding, thus making it the first-choice of treatment by the NHS.
• Furthermore, systematic desensitisation might be more appropriate in treating a wider range of individuals, such as those with learning difficulties, as the process is gradual and grants the individual an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the process and session, reducing the likelihood of harm.
• Flooding is often criticised for the suggestion that it can lead to the worsening of an individuals phobia, as the individual's hysteria may not subside and they may choose to drop out of the treatment, leading to the formation of another traumatic memory in regards to their phobic stimuli - worsening their phobia, as flooding may not be successful in simply one session
• however, flooding = less time consuming, can be completed in one-session and is found to be effective (Wolpe) thus suggesting it to be a more time and cost-effective treatment for healthcare providers than the nhs.