Treatment and management of anxiety disorders and fear-related disorders

Need to know

What you need to know

• Based on classical conditioning; aims to counter-condition a fear response.
• Involves three key stages: relaxation training, construction of a fear hierarchy, and gradual exposure.
• Relies on the principle of 'reciprocal inhibition' – the idea that two opposing emotions cannot be experienced simultaneously.
• Exposure can be 'in vitro' (imagined) or 'in vivo' (real-life).
• It is a gradual process, considered more ethical and less traumatic than flooding.

Explanation

Treatment and management of anxiety disorders and fear-related disorders

1. Based on classical conditioning; aims to counter-condition a fear response.
2. Involves three key stages: relaxation training, construction of a fear hierarchy, and gradual exposure.
3. Relies on the principle of 'reciprocal inhibition' – the idea that two opposing emotions cannot be experienced simultaneously.
4. Exposure can be 'in vitro' (imagined) or 'in vivo' (real-life).