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Therapist Contact and Outcome of Self-exposure Treatment for Phobias

A Controlled Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Ghosh ,
I. M. Marks  and
A. C. Carr
A. Ghosh
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry; St David's Hospital, Carmarthen
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Abstract

Eighty-four chronic phobic patients were randomly assigned to self-exposure in vivo instructed by either a psychiatrist, a computer or a book; mean therapy time per patient was respectively 3.1, 3.2 and 0 hours. Seventy-one patients completed treatment. All three groups improved substantially and similarly to 6 months follow-up, with no significant difference between them; self-exposure treatment was effective even without therapist contact. Among the three groups, initial expectation of help and positive attitude to the psychiatrist were equally high and related to subsequent rating of help received. All three groups rated the psychiatrist as more tolerant, reliable, and understanding than the computer or book, but these attitudes did not relate to outcome, were initially similar among all three groups, and changed minimally at 6 months follow-up.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 2 , February 1988 , pp. 234 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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