treating phobias

• what approach is used when treating phobias?

  behvioural approach
• what process is treating phobias based on?

  Mowrer's two-process model of phobia acquisition and maintenance.
• what do behavioural treatments aim to do?

  - reduce phobic anxiety through learning new associations.

  - reduce phobic anxiety by preventing avoidance, so the phobia is no longer maintained.
• what is is called when the phobic stimulus is paired with a response of relaxation instead of anxiety?

  counter conditioning
• what are the two behavioural methods used in treatments of phobias?

  - systematic desensitisation (step by step)

  - flooding (full immersion)
• what are systematic desensitisation and flooding both a form of?

  exposure therapy
• what are the 6 stages of systematic desensitisation?

  1) patient is trained in relaxation techniques

  2) the therapist and patient together construct an anxiety hierarchy.

  3) the patient is exposed to the phobic stimulus while practicing relaxation techniques.

  4) success
• what is an anxiety hierarchy?


  A stepped approach to getting the patient to face the object or situation of their phobia from least to most frightening. Constructed by patient and therapist.
• what must happen before the patient can move up the hierarchy?

  the patient must be able to stay relaxed.
• what will happen for the treatment to be successful?

  the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy. (they will be counter conditioned.)
• what research shows systematic desensitisation to be effective?

  Lisa Gilroy et al (2003) followed up 42 people who had systematic desensitisation for spider phobia. In three 45 minute sessions. At both 3 and 33 months, the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than the control who were treated with relaxation without exposure.
• what is systematic desensitisation most effective with?

  specific phobia. But, can also help people with social phobias and agoraphobia, but is less effective.
• who is systematic desensitisation suitable for?

  a diverse range of patients, including those with learning difficulties and children, due to it being a step by step approach and not requiring high levels of rational thoughts, so is less confusing and distressing in comparison to many cognitive therapies.
• what shows systematic desensitisation is more acceptable to patients?

  patients are usually given a choice between systematic desensitisation and flooding. More patients choose systematic desensitisation.
• what does flooding involve?

  overwhelming / ' flooding ' the individuals senses with an item or situation that causes anxiety so that the person realises that no harm will occur.
• what is not involved in flooding?

  no relaxation techniques or step by step build up.
• How is the individual exposed to the stimulus in flooding?

  exposed repeatedly and in an intense way with their phobia.
• What makes flooding work?

  eventually the person calms down (no energy to continue fight / flight) and forms a new association between the stimulus and their reaction.
• What does flooding result in?


  stops the phobic responses very quickly without an option for avoidance behaviour, so the patient will quickly learn it is harmless. This is counter conditioning and results in extinction. The conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response of fear.
• Why is flooding not unethical?

  patients give full informed consent and so know exactly what is involved.
• who is flooding not suitable for?

  those with learning difficulties and children.
• what is an advantage of flooding?

  it is cost effective as it can work in as little as one session. Useful for the NHS.
• why is flooding less effective for some types of phobias?

  more complex phobias like social phobias have cognitive aspects. the individual does not simply experience an anxiety response, but has complex unpleasant thoughts about the social situation.
• What is another negative to flooding?

  can produce high levels of fear, which can be very traumatic and as a result many patients refuse to start or complete treatment. If someone drops out mid way through therapy, it acts as negative reinforcement and can make the phobia worse.