Phobia Treatments

Flooding
Flooding is an extreme therapy based on classical conditioning. Patient is forced to directly confront their biggest fear, they are exposed and put in a situation. Eg. if fear is of water then they would be put into a pool. They usually feel very anxious at first, but gradually their body would naturally calm down and they will learn to associate this relaxation with their fear.

Summary: Flooding as described by the mark scheme

Participant told about nature of therapy before it starts

Deliberate exposed to phobia, Puts them near phobia

Forced to be with phobia

Their anxiety level becomes very high

Fear subsides as they learn to associate horses with no fear

Systematic Desensitization
In systematic desensitization the patient creates a hierarchy of fears ranging from the least feared to the most feared in terms of anxiety. They are exposed to the fears one by one, where they will learn to associate the fear with relaxation. They gradually work their way up to the highest level.

Summary: Systematic Desensitization described by the mark scheme

Develop hierarchy of fears with therapist

List of phobia related situations, ranked from mild to high anxiety

Taught relaxation techniques, deep breathing

Presented with fear situation, starting with mild anxiety

Moving up the hierarchy of fears

SD based on classical conditioning

Learns to associate relaxation with each stage

Comparing the two treatments
Ethical issues

Both flooding and systematic desensitisation are therapies that produces distress, especially flooding. Systematic desensitisation has a certain degree of patient control. Less distressing than flooding.

Disadvantages of Flooding

Less patient control

Enormous amount of distress

Cannot withdraw (will cause damage)

Sometimes doesn't work

Systematic Desensitisation

More patient control

Less distress

Can withdraw at any point