Systematic Desensitisation

• Behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning
• Phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety - counterconditioning
• Its impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents the other - reciprocal inhibition
• There’s three processes - anxiety hierachy, relaxation, exposure
• Anxiety Hierachy

  • put together by the patient and therapist
  • a list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety arranged from least to most frightening (cartoon dog to wild dog)
  • Begins in vitro (imagined) then to in vivo (actual contact)
• Relaxation

  • Patients are taught relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or mental imagery
  • Taught to imagine themselves in relaxing situations or learn meditation
  • can also be achieved using drugs such as valium
• Exposure

  • Patient is exposed to the list of situations of the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state
  • Takes place overall several stations, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierachy
  • when patients are able to stay relaxed in lower levels, they move up the anxiety hierachy
  • Treatment is successful when patients can stay relaxed at the top of the anxiety hierachy
• Strength - Research shows its effective

  • Gilroy et al (2003) - followed up 42 patients following 3 sessions of SD, with a control group going through relaxation therapy. Found that at 3 months, and 33 months of therapy, The SD group were less fearful than control group
  • Therefore, SD is helpful in reducing fear and effects are long lasting
• Strength - its suitable for a diverse range of patients

  • flooding and cognitive therapy aren’t suitable for some patients
  • some sufferers of anxiety disorders also have learning difficulties
  • makes it harder for some patients to understand whats going on in flooding or cognitive therapy
  • Therefore, SD is more appropriate
• Strength - its more acceptable to use for patients

  • patients prefer it over flooding
  • Doesn’t cause the same degree of trauma
  • Includes elements (relaxation techniques) where flooding may not
  • Shows low refusal and attrition rates (less drop outs)