THEORY
Strengths - Behavioural Approach to Treating Phobias:
Systematic Desensitisation:
1. Effectiveness:
Flooding:
1. Effectiveness:
1. Effectiveness:
- Highly effective in treating phobias and other anxiety disorders EG:
- McGRATH et al (1990) found that 75% of patients with phobias respond to SD.
- CAPAFONS (1998) found that when used with aerophobics, those who had undergone SD reported lower levels of fear and lower physiological signs of fear during a flight simulation. This shows that both perception of fear and bodily fear response are effectively reduced.
- Effectiveness is long lasting EG:
- GILROY et al (2003) found that spider phobics were still less fearful than a control group, who had only experienced relaxation training, 33 months later. This also shows that SD's effectiveness is not solely based on the relaxation element, but that the exposure element also contributes significantly to the reduction of fear.
- Generally suitable for a wide range of patients and requires low levels of effort from the client (other psychotherapies involve a patient to be more actively involved in their treatment EG: CBT). Therefore, it can be used even with children or clients with severe learning difficulties.
- No ethical objections to SD, because the client has a lot of control over the treatment; progression up the hierarchy only occurs when they feel confident enough.
Flooding:
1. Effectiveness:
- Highly effective and a very rapid treatment. WOLPE (1960) treated an adolescent girl with agoraphobia by putting her into the back of a car and driving her around for 4 hours. Her fear initially rose to hysterical panic, but then receded. By the end of the journey, she was completely calm.
- Mixed evidence of the effectiveness of flooding compared to SD or other treatments for phobias. CHOY et al (2007) found flooding to be superior than SD.
- Although it is possible that longer term, negative side-effects may occur, SHIPLEY & BOUDEWYNS (1980) found that only 0.2% of patients experienced side-effects: the same (or fewer than) alternative treatments. Therefore, it was concluded that flooding is safe, effective and appropriate for the majority of phobic patients.
Limitations - Behavioural Approach to Treating Phobias:
Systematic Desensitisation:
1. Effectiveness:
Flooding:
1. Effectiveness:
1. Effectiveness:
- Doesn't work equally well for all types of phobia, nor is it 100% effective, therefore it doesn't work for everyone with a phobia.
Flooding:
1. Effectiveness:
- WOLPE (1960) - this case study has no data on long-term effectiveness (was she permanently cured of her phobia?), therefore, we need more evidence before concluding that flooding is effective.
- Mixed evidence of the effectiveness of flooding compared to SD or other treatments for phobias. CRASKE et al (2008) found no difference between flooding and SD.
- Serious ethical concerns with a treatment that involves traumatising patients! Although informed consent is obtained and the patient can withdraw from treatment if they wish, it is possible that longer term, negative side-effects may occur. SHIPLEY & BOUDEWYNS (1980) found that only 0.2% of patients experienced side-effects: the same (or fewer than) alternative treatments.
- Individuals have to be highly motivated to undergo flooding and dropout rates can be high. This reduces the appropriateness of flooding for many people with phobias.