Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Systematic desensitisation:

Gradually reduce phobia anxiety. The person is cured when they learn to relax in the presence of the phobia

Processes involved in SD:

• The anxiety hierachy: patient is put in situations to create anxiety (starting from least going to most frighteneing situations) 
• Relaxation: patient is taught how to relax (e.g. breathing exercises)
• Exposure: patient is eventually put in the presense of the phobic stimulus when in a relaxed state

A03:

Systematic desensitisation is is effective

• e.g. Gilroy et al (2003) found that his patients became less stressed in the presence of a spider after systematic desensitisation

Systematic…