N212: Health Differences Across the Life Span 2

Health Differences Across the Lifespan 2 Study Guide potentially damaging physical side effects of the more intense aversive stimuli, should consult their primary care doctor first. Aftercare: Patients completing the initial phase of aversion therapy are often asked by the therapist to return periodically over the following six to twelve months for booster sessions to prevent relapse. Risks: Patients with cardiac, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal problems may experience a worsening of their symptoms, depending upon the characteristics and strength of the aversive stimuli. Some therapists have reported that patients undergoing aversion therapy, especially treatment that uses powerful chemical or pharmacological aversive stimuli, have become negative and aggressive. Example Someone who wants to stop smoking might go to a therapist who uses a quit smoking technique, in which the client is allowed to smoke but must take a puff on the cigarette every five or six seconds. As nicotine is a poison, such rapid smoking produces nausea and dizziness, both unpleasant responses. Use of the drug Disulfiram to treat alcoholism is another example of aversion therapy. This prescribed medicine results in several aversive reactions when combined with alcohol. The person may experience nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and even more serious symptoms making this drug an effective deterrent for drinking for people who are unable to quit by other means. Flooding: Flooding was invented by psychologist Thomas Stampfl. Flooding is an effective form of treatment for phobias amongst other psychopathologies. It works on the behaviorist principles of classical conditioning. In this technique, the person is rapidly and intensely exposed to the fear- provoking situation or object and prevented from making the usual avoidance or escape response. This is generally used with phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Procedure: The client is prevented from the conditioned avoidance of the behavior by not being allowed to escape the fear-inducing situation. No relaxation therapy is used and the patient experiences fear. The fear gradually subsides after some time. The success of the procedure depends on having the patients remain in the fear-generating situation until they are calm and feel a sense of mastery. Advantages of aversion therapy: • Short duration of therapy (usually 6-8 weeks) • Easy to train the patients • Cost effective ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 25 of 140