Therapies for Phobias

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• This therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts or beliefs (cognitions) can lead to fearful reactions and behaviour.
• In CBT, therapists help individuals to challenge and change their negative cognitions.
• This could involve identifying irrational, unhelpful fears and replacing them with more balanced views.
• Techniques such as systematic desensitisation or exposure therapy can also be used.

Systematic Desensitisation

• Systematic desensitisation is a technique that gradually exposes an individual to their fear in a controlled and safe environment.
• This involves creating a hierarchy of fears, starting with the least frightening scenario and gradually working up to the most fear-inducing scenario.
• This technique also may involve use of relaxation techniques like controlled breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.
• The aim is to extinguish the learned fearful response to the phobic stimulus.

Flooding

• Flooding is a more direct form of exposure therapy where the individual is immediately exposed to their greatest fear.
• Therapists may use in vivo (real-life exposure) or virtual reality technology for this exposure.
• This technique is based on the premise that a person's flight-or-fight response can only be maintained for a limited time, after this the fear response should reduce.
• This therapy could involve risk, such as high stress levels, and thus therapist's careful guidance and preparation is required.

Pharmacological Methods

• These involve medication like beta-blockers and benzodiazepines.
• Beta-blockers manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate.
• Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers that can decrease anxiety and help calm an individual.
• Medication can provide temporary relief but does not treat the underlying cause of the phobia.
• Long-term use of medication may have side effects, and there can be potential for dependency.

Evaluation of Therapies

• Effectiveness of a therapy depends on the character of the individual and the nature of the phobia.
• Evidence suggests that cognitive-behavioral therapies are generally more effective in the long term than other methods.
• While drug treatments can provide rapid relief, they may be less effective long term and carry risk of side-effects.
• An ethical obligation exists for therapists to fully explain the pros and cons of each treatment, to ensure that the person can make an informed decision about their therapy.