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Imaginal Flooding and Exposure to Real Phobic Situations: Treatment Outcome with Agoraphobic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

A. M. Mathews ,
D. W. Johnston ,
M. Lancashire ,
M. Munby ,
P. M. Shaw  and
M. G. Gelder
A. M. Mathews
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
D. W. Johnston
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
M. Lancashire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
M. Munby
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
P. M. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
M. G. Gelder
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
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Summary

Each of thirty-six female agoraphobic out-patients were treated by one of three methods: 8 sessions of imaginal flooding followed by 8 sessions of practice in the real situation; 16 sessions of combined flooding and practice; or 16 sessions of practice alone. Three therapists treated equal numbers of patients in each group, and there was some evidence that patients' response varied according to the therapist seen, irrespective of treatment group. There were no significant differences between treatment groups after 8 sessions, 16 sessions or on six-month follow-up. It is concluded that there are no long-term differences between the effects of treatments involving exposure to either imaginai or real phobic situations or to a combination of both, provided that patients are encouraged to practise between sessions.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 129 , Issue 4 , October 1976 , pp. 362 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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