Short course
5.11
Treating anxiety disorders
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| Graded exposure
Graded exposure assists patients to overcome phobias by gradually re-exposing themselves to the feared situation in a manner that allows them to habituate themselves to it.
- Identify specific goals and break them into smaller, manageable
steps
- Learn to master situations that cause mild anxiety
- Progressively master situations that are associated with greater
anxiety
- Confront fears regularly and frequently
- Emphasise habituation to anxiety in each exposure session
Example of a graded exposure hierarchy
Goal: To travel alone by train to the city and back
- Travelling one stop, quiet time of day (anxiety level 4/10)
- Travelling two stops, quiet time of day
- Travelling two stops, rush hour (anxiety level 6/10)
- Travelling five stops, quiet time of day
- Travelling five stops, rush hour (anxiety level 8/10)
- Travelling all the way, quiet time of day
- Travelling all the way, rush hour (anxiety level 10/10)
Note: Anxiety levels are those predicted by the patient
before starting treatment
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