PSYC36H3 Lecture Notes - Exposure Therapy, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia
Document Summary
Example exposure hierarchy for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Chart suds ratings to demonstrate decrease in anxiety in situation over time (reduce at least 50%) Another type of very effective exposure therapy is flood therapy where you start off at the peak of anxiety/fear and work from there, but drop out rate is high so not commonly used. Imaginal exposure is when you don"t have access to the stimulus, so the patient imagines it. Changes in activation in the amygdala and cingulate cortex. Neurological, behavioral and emotional changes 6 months later. The client must peak during therapy for it to be effective. Ask your patient how distressed they are and by the end of therapy, it should be down by half. Keep track of the suds throughout the treatment and let the patient know how much he/she has improved. Be non-judgmental and the therapist should do what the patient should have to do during therapy.
