Approaches to treating phobias: flooding and systematic desensitisation
Systematic desensitisation (SD)- A form of behavioural therapy designed to reduce phobias
through classical conditioning. Through counterconditioning, a new association is learnt.
1. Anxiety hierarchy: This is a list created by the patient and therapist. It is a list of
situations relating to the phobic stimulus that causes anxiety. They are arranged in
order from least to most frightening: as a hierarchy
2. Relaxation: Therapists teach patients to relax as deeply as possible through
meditation, imagination or drugs.
3. Exposure: Patient is exposed to a phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state. This takes
place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy.
Treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on
anxiety.
The main aim of systematic desensitisation is to create reciprocal inhibition
The idea that is biologically impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time
Flooding
Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation without a gradual build up
Typically one session lasting 2-3 hours
Extinction: Patient learns the phobic stimulus is harmless and the association between the
phobic stimulus and fear no longer exists.
Systematic desensitisation (SD)- A form of behavioural therapy designed to reduce phobias
through classical conditioning. Through counterconditioning, a new association is learnt.
1. Anxiety hierarchy: This is a list created by the patient and therapist. It is a list of
situations relating to the phobic stimulus that causes anxiety. They are arranged in
order from least to most frightening: as a hierarchy
2. Relaxation: Therapists teach patients to relax as deeply as possible through
meditation, imagination or drugs.
3. Exposure: Patient is exposed to a phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state. This takes
place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy.
Treatment is successful when the patient can stay relaxed in situations high on
anxiety.
The main aim of systematic desensitisation is to create reciprocal inhibition
The idea that is biologically impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time
Flooding
Immediate exposure to a very frightening situation without a gradual build up
Typically one session lasting 2-3 hours
Extinction: Patient learns the phobic stimulus is harmless and the association between the
phobic stimulus and fear no longer exists.
