Phobias treatment

• What three components does SD include?

  anxiety hierachy- the client is introduced to least to most frightening gradually.

  Relaxation- client is taught breathing exercises to help feel calm.

  Exposure- exposed to phobia and phobia is overcome with feelings of relaxation rather than fear.
• What does SD aim to do?

  use countercond- replaces a maladaptive response(fear) with a healthier response(relaxation)
• What is the aim of flooding?

  immediately expose the client to their phobia whilst they try understand they are safe, through relaxation processes.

  sesisons usually last 2-3 hours.

  -person is unable to avoid (negatively reinforce) their phobia and through continuous exposure, anxiety levels decrease (extinguish).
• What research supports SD?

  Rothbaum et al(2000)-SD pps who were afraid of flying 

  93 percent agreed to take trial flight after treatment with consequent lower anxiety levels , compared to CG. 
• A further strength of SD is its ability to treat people with learning disabilities.They often struggle with cognitive therapies which require them to think logically, and flooding may cause distress.
• One strength of flooding is that it is highly cost effective.Flooding works in just one session,unlike SD with at least 10.
• A limitation of flooding is that it can be unpleasant and uncomfortable for the patient.Schumacher et al stated that patients found flooding more discomforting than SD.The traumatic nature also means there are higher attrition rates.