Gilroy examined 42 patients with arachnophobia using 3 45min SD sessions, examined after 3 months, found less fearful than control group (relaxation techniques only)
Supportive evidence
SD criticised for symptom substitution, lower effectiveness, Persons 'cure one and another may appear'
SD procedure
Easier than flooding, work up anxiety hierarchy, relaxed state, own pace
SD procedure
McGrath75% responded to SD, strong empirical support
SD procedure
Not effective for anxieties with underlying survival component (Ohman)
Flooding
Wolpe successful with girl scared of cars, cost-effective and quicker than SD, get same result, cheaper for health services who don't have largefund
