Phobia Treatments

== Flooding ==
Flooding is an extreme therapy based on classical conditioning. Patient is forced to directly confront their biggest fear, they are exposed and put in a situation. Eg. if fear is of water then they would be put into a pool. They usually feel very anxious at first, but gradually their body would naturally calm down and they will learn to associate this relaxation with their fear. 
Summary: Flooding as described by the mark scheme 
Participant told about nature of therapy before it starts
Deliberate exposed to phobia, Puts them near phobia
Forced to be with phobia
Their anxiety level becomes very high
Fear subsides as they learn to associate horses with no fear
== Systematic Desensitization ==
In systematic desensitization the patient creates a hierarchy of fears ranging from the least feared to the most feared in terms of anxiety. They are exposed to the fears one by one, where they will learn to associate the fear with relaxation. They gradually work their way up to the highest level. 
Summary: Systematic Desensitization described by the mark scheme 
Develop hierarchy of fears with therapist
List of phobia related situations, ranked from mild to high anxiety 
Taught relaxation techniques, deep breathing 
Presented with fear situation, starting with mild anxiety 
Moving up the hierarchy of fears
SD based on classical conditioning
Learns to associate relaxation with each stage 
== Comparing the two treatments ==
Ethical issues
Both flooding and systematic desensitisation are therapies that produces distress, especially flooding. Systematic desensitisation has a certain degree of patient control. Less distressing than flooding. 
Disadvantages of Flooding
Less patient control 
Enormous amount of distress
Cannot withdraw (will cause damage)
Sometimes doesn't work 
Systematic Desensitisation
More patient control
Less distress
Can withdraw at any point