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CH 13 - Specific phobia - Coggle Diagram
CH 13 - Specific phobia
Factors contributing to development of specific phobia
Biological
Role of the stress response
Physiological changes associated with the fight/flight/freeze response may heighten the anxiety being experienced and maintain physiological symptoms of the phobic reaction helping to develop a specific phobia leaving people afraid because when they encountered the stimulus they experienced unpleasant symptoms. The anxiety can be excessive even when the phobic stimulus is not present
GABA dysfunction
If you don't have enough GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter) your extreme response won't turn off as post-synaptic neurons keep getting activated and firing, this means high levels of anxiety remain
Long-term potentiation (LTP)
The neural pathways are strengthened each time the patient thinks about their phobic stimulus and associates it with their fear response. Therefore, it makes it easier for the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurons to connect again in the future and ignite the patient's memory of their fear
Psychological
Cognitive bias
Memory bias
The tendency to recognise or recall negative / threatening information better than positive of neutral information
Catastrophic thinking
Overestimating the level of threat and/or encountering that it will result in the worst possible outcome which increases anxiety levels
A systematic error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgements people make which can contribute to the development and maintenance of phobias
Classical and operant conditioning
Specific phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
Social
Specific environmental triggers
Specific objects or situations in the environment thats caused or triggered an extreme fear response at some point in time. The initial fear response becomes a conditioned fear through classical conditioning
Stigma around seeking treatment
People may feel embarrassed, helpless or experience anxiety at the thought of admitting their problem to family, friends or a professional and seeking help which can lead to further decline
Evidence based interventions in the treatment of specific phobia
Biological
Benzodiazepines (GABA agonists)
Short acting anti-anxiety medication which can treat symptoms temporarily by mimicking GABA's inhibitory action (reducing excess neural firing) which can work to reduce anxiety symptoms
Relaxation techniques
Exercise
Provides a distraction from the phobic stimulus, alters brain chemistry by releasing endorphins which promotes a sense of wellbeing, provides a feeling of control and increases tolerance to some of the fear and anxiety symptoms.
Breathing retraining
Phobias usually result in hyperventilating of breathing quickly so Individuals are taught slow breathing techniques to reduce anxiety as it distracts them from the stimulus and reduces the physiological effects which can help alleviate symptoms
Psychological
Systematic desensitization
Uses classical conditioning to 'unlearn' the phobia by first learning relaxation techniques. The creating a fear hierarchy and then working their way through the hierarchy while continuing to practice the relaxation techniques. However this techniques may not work if the fear is based on lack of preparation rather than fear of an object or if the fear has a survival element to it.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Attempts to change irrational patterns/negative thinking and replace them with positive thoughts in order to change your behaviour towards the phobic stimuli. People are encouraged to think realistically about the threat that the stimuli poses
Social
Psychoeducation for families and supporters
Providing sufferers of mental illness and their families with facts and knowledge that can help them understand and cope with their illness. The main goal is to challenge unrealistic/anxious thoughts and not encourage avoidance behaviours