treating phobias

Question 1

flooding

Answer 1

• form of behavioural therapy used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders
• client is immediately exposed to an extreme form of the threatening situation (phobic stimulus)
• where avoidance is prevented
• until anxiety reaction is extinguished

Question 2

counterconditioning

Answer 2

learning a new response

Question 3

reciprocal inhibition

Answer 3

idea that you cannot feel afraid and relaxed at the same time, meaning one emotion prevents the other

Question 4

what does flooding involve and what characteristics does it treat

Answer 4

• immediate exposure to phobic stimulus where avoidance is prevented until anxiety is extinguished
• before exposure begins, patient is taught relaxation techniques
• treats fear and anxiety (emotional) and avoidance (behavioural)

Question 5

ethical considerations of flooding

Answer 5

unethical:
- it is highly distressing (psychological harm) and right to withdraw is prevented
ethical:
- patient gives informed consent to these aspects of the therapy

Question 6

systematic desensitisation

Answer 6

it is designed to expose the patient to the phobic stimulus using an anxiety hierarchy and by teaching them relaxation techniques

Question 7

what does systematic desensitisation involve

Answer 7

• first, taught relaxation techniques
• then they create an anxiety hierarchy ( list of anxiety inducing situations from least to most frightening)
• then they are gradually exposed to the phobic stimulus and they apply their relaxation techniques until avoidance is prevented
• then they move onto the next step of the anxiety hierarchy and repeat until they remain relaxed in most anxiety inducing situations

Question 8

similarities of systematic desensitisation and flooding

Answer 8

• both work on basis of counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition
• some sort of process- relaxation techniques, exposed to phobic stimulus, anxiety increases

Question 9

differences of systematic desensitisation and flooding

Answer 9

• flooding is immediate exposure while systematic desensitisation is gradual exposure
• higher risk of phobias getting worse if person withdraws from flooding compared to SD
• flooding is more distress than SD
• SD has more control for patient compared to flooding

Question 10

evaluation points for flooding

Answer 10

• supporting evidence for effectiveness from being highly effective
• weakness of effectiveness from one phobia disappearing and another appearing in its place
• weakness of effectiveness from being less effective for more complex phobias
• weakness for appropriateness from being traumatic

Question 11

supporting evidence for effectiveness of flooding from being highly effective

Answer 11

• flooding is as effective as other therapies at treating specific phobias
• studies found it is quicker than alternatives
• suggests patients are free of symptoms asap due to counterconditioning and removal of avoidance so cheaper
• impacts economy as more ppl are available to work and increases productivity

Question 12

weakness of effectiveness of flooding from one phobia disappearing and another appearing in its place

Answer 12

• symptom substitution e.g. where phobia of snakes replaced with phobia of trains
• this occurs because phobia is not behavioural ( maybe it was unconscious)
• therefore therapy helps person stay relaxed around snakes but doesnt beat the unconscious problem and another phobia will take its place
• therefore therapy wont be effective as phobia isnt conditioned so counterconditioning wont work

Question 13

weakness of effectiveness of flooding from being less effective for complex phobias

Answer 13

• e.g. social phobias
• because those have cognitive aspects such as thinking unpleasant thoughts
• therefore patients would benefit more from cognitive therapies which tackle irrational thinking
• so flooding isnt effective for this type of phobias

Question 14

weakness of appropriateness of flooding from therapy being highly traumatic

Answer 14

• it isnt unethical, but many patients dont see it through to the end
• therefore time and money is wasted on preparing patients who then dont start or complete the treatment
• therefore less traumatic options e.g. SD might be appropriate because the phobia wont be made worse if the patient withdraws

Question 15

evaluation points for systematic desensitisation

Answer 15

• supporting evidence for effectiveness from research
• weakness for effectiveness from one phobia disappearing and another appearing in its place
• strength of appropriateness from being suitable for ppl with learning difficulties
• strength of appropriateness from patients preferring it

Question 16

supporting evidence for effectiveness of SD from research

Answer 16

• research suggests the therapy works
• researchers followed 42 patients treated of spider phobias in 3 45 min sessions of SD
• control group of relaxation without exposure
• at 3 months and 33 months after, SD group was less fearful than control group
• suggests SD reduces anxiety through counterconditioning and removing avoidance and effects are longlasting

Question 17

weakness of effectiveness of SD from one phobia disappearing and another appearing in its place

Answer 17

• symptom substitution e.g. where phobia of snakes replaced with phobia of trains
• this occurs because phobia is not behavioural ( maybe it was unconscious)
• therefore therapy helps person stay relaxed around snakes but doesnt beat the unconscious problem and another phobia will take its place
• therefore therapy wont be effective as phobia isnt conditioned so counterconditioning wont work

Question 18

strength of appropriateness of SD from being suitable for those with learning difficulties

Answer 18

• flooding and cognitive therapies arent suitable for learning difficulties because it is hard to understand what is happening during flooding or to engage with the cognitive therapies that require them to reflect on their thoughts
• therefore SD is most effective for those as treatment progresses slowly and doesnt require reflection on their thoughts
• therefore SD is appropriate for a diverse range of patients

Question 19

strength of appropriateness of SD from patients preferring it

Answer 19

• those given a choice often choose SD
• because it doesnt cause the same degree of trauma from exposing them to the phobic stimulus suddenly
• reflected in low refusal rates of the therapy
• therefore its less traumatic an more appropriate than flooding