Describe and evaluate one behavioural treatment for psychopathology (12 marks)
One behavioural treatment for psychopathology is the systematic de-sensitisation (DS). The systematic de-sensitisation was developed by Joseph Wolfe (1950) which enables individuals to overcome their anxieties by learning to relax in the presence of the stimuli. This is the process that gradually cures patient normally from phobias. This type of behaviour therapy is based on classical conditioning which involves the patient learning to associate their phobic stimulation with relaxation. Systematic de-sensitisation works by expanding the exposure time and gradually introducing the person to the feared situation, one at a time, so it gives them time to reflect on what they are doing. SD works by the patient being taught muscle relaxation and breathing exercises to make sure that the patient is in a calm and relax state before continuing the process. Afterwards, after the patient has learned how to relax, the therapist and the patient construct a de-sensitisation hierarchy together, starting at a stimulus that creates the least anxiety and building up in stages to fear provoking images. This way, the patient and the therapist can work together to slowly overcome the patient’s phobia slowly. Then, the patient gradually work their way through the de-sensitisation hierarchy and taking time to relax in between the hierarchy. By being able to relax at each step, the situation becomes more familiar and develops a greater confidence in conquering each stages. Finally, as the patient slowly moves forward the hierarchy they would eventually master their feared situation and be cured from that phobia.
Moreover, one strength for the systematic de-sensitisation is the appropriateness in the treatment of anxiety-related disorders. Behavioural therapies are quick and require less effort for the patient, unlike the cognitive behavioural therapy. This is