Treating Phobias

Systematic Desensitisation 

Behavioural therapy based on classical conditioning, that aims to remove the fear response to the conditioned stimulus and replace it with a relaxation response.

• An hierarchy of fear is developed and the patients will work through it using relaxation skills/techniques.

WOLPE (1958) developed the treatment in the late 1950s, which focuses on counter conditioning. Patients need to be relaxed at each stage in order to move up to the next and studies have shown that the vital factor is EXPOSURE TO STIMULUS:

• In-vitro exposure (imagining the situation)
• In-vivo exposure (experiencing the situation)

Zettle (2003) carried out a study with 24 college students who feared math. They were treated with systematic desensitisation for 6 weeks and it was found that anxiety decreased even though their math abilities did not change.

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Flooding 

Behavioural treatment based on classical conditioning invented by Stampfl (1967), also known as exposure therapy since it exposes patients directly to their fear and does not allow them to escape until relaxation is reached. 

• INITIAL HYSTERIA  — > EASE AND RELAXATION because patients see the irrationality of the phobia.

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Applied Tension

Behavioural therapy for blood-related phobias based on the idea that most people feel disgust/nausea rather than actual fear;  therefore, patients learn to their muscles to increase their blood pressure.

OST (1989) studies 30 patients with phobias of blood, wounds and injuries and were treated individually with applied tension and relaxation. They were evaluated through self-report, behavioural and physiological measures – before, after treatment and six month after.

• All improved significantly and maintained the overall progress.

OST AND WESTLING (1995) wanted to compare the effects of CBT and applied tension on 38 patients with a longitudinal study of 12 weeks. It was found that both techniques were effective:

• CBT had a 74% success rate after treatment and 89% on follow-up study.
• Applied relaxation had a 65% success rate after treatment and 82% on follow-up study.