Biological Therapy - Systematic Desensitisation

Biological Therapy - Systematic Desenstisation

Therapy:Process:1) Patient relaxes.2) Therapist and patient establish a level of hierarchy.3) The therapist works through each level of hierarchy once the patient becomes relaxed with the level. This is the process of counter-conditioningThis method is used for phobias and anxieties.

Evaluation:Effective:McGrath estimated that it is useful for 75% of people with a specific phobia e.g. spiders. However it is less effective for non-specific phobias e.g. agoraphobia.Quick:90% of patients show some improvement after one session. Other therapies can take longer such as CBT which takes one year to complete. This means it can treat phobias faster for people and therefore, they would not drop out as often as they see the effects soon.Weaknesses:-Can't be used for all phobias such as terrorists-Can be distressing. The patient may become upset when faced with their phobia if a level of hierarchy is missed or left out.