Treatment of Phobias
The treatment of phobias is either psychotherapy or medication. The most effective treatment is when there is a combination of psychotherapy and medications that are for the individual’s phobia (“Medication” 1). One type of therapy for mental disorders is desensitization, or else exposure therapy. It includes the supportive and gradual exposure of the individual to situations or objects that are similar to what he or she is phobic about. These circumstances can either be simulated with the help of technology or by actual anxiety-provoking stimuli (“Therapy” 4).Treatment of Phobias Example Paper
It has been found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can often decrease phobic symptoms as it helps the sufferer change his or her way of thinking. To accomplish this goal, CBT uses three techniques (“Therapy” 2): Firstly, the didactic component educates the person about the different phobias and the treatment, it creates positive expectations for therapy and leads him or her to cooperate with a phobia. The second technique is the cognitive component.
This technique helps the individual to recognize which are the ideas and assumptions that influence his or her behavior. The third technique is the behavioral component. It makes use of techniques that have the purpose to modify the sufferer’s behavior in order to teach him or her strategies to deal with the phobia (“Therapy” 3). It is essential to most patients’ recovery.
Medications are also used for the treatment of phobias, with the drawback of the possible side effects that usually vary from person to person and depend on the type of medication (“Medication” 1). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are often used for all types of phobias, mostly when desensitization and CBT are not effective. SSRI increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. Examples of these medications are fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil). Common side effects of SSRI include dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, nausea (“Medication” 2).Treatment of Phobias Example Paper
