Dale's Psychological Disorder and Systematic Desensitization

The Connection Between Psychological Disorders and Systematic Desensitization

A psychological disorder is a persistent, dysfunctional pattern of thinking, feeling, or behavior that causes significant distress and deviates from the person's culture. According to the biopsychosocial model, these disorders have biological, psychological, and social causes. Five major psychological disorders—autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia—share common genetic risk factors. They are characterized by distressing or disabling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Dale, who received treatment with systematic desensitization, likely had a specific phobia. This therapy technique aims to reduce anxiety associated with specific fears by gradually exposing the individual to the feared object or situation under controlled conditions.

Understanding Dale's Psychological Disorder

Specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder involving intense and irrational fears of specific objects or situations. Systematic desensitization is commonly used to address phobias as it helps individuals associate relaxation with the fear-inducing stimuli. While Dale's specific disorder is not specified, systematic desensitization is typically utilized for phobias rather than conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD manifests with a range of symptoms following a traumatic event, and treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), prolonged exposure therapy, or systematic desensitization if phobias develop. Through gradual exposure to feared stimuli, individuals learn to replace anxiety with relaxation, leading to desensitization over time. This process allows individuals to confront increasingly challenging situations until they achieve relief from their fears.

Dale was treated for his psychological disorder with systematic desensitization. What type of psychological disorder did Dale most likely have?

Final answer: Dale, who was treated with systematic desensitization, most likely had a specific phobia. This technique is used to reduce the anxiety associated with specific fears by gradually exposing the individual to the feared object or situation under controlled conditions. Explanation: Systematic desensitization is a therapy technique primarily used for phobias, which are characterized by intense and irrational fears of specific objects or situations. The gradual exposure in this approach helps individuals associate relaxation with fear-inducing stimuli, leading to desensitization.

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