Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2xdlg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-20T22:16:17.658Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Preliminary Communication: 1: Declining-dose drug desensitization for phobias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

W. O. McCormick  and
E. C. O'Gorman
W. O. McCormick
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, The Queen's University of Belfast
E. C. O'Gorman
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, The Queen's University of Belfast
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

The use of a technique of Declining-dose Drug Desensitization (DDDD) in phobic patients is described. An anti-anxiety drug is used (diazepam), the blood level declining during each treatment session and the starting dose for each treatment session being gradually reduced. Some relevant animal work on state-dependent learaing in the drugged-state is briefly reviewed. Despite the multiplicity of other treatments available this method would appear to have some advantages.

Type
Preliminary Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , August 1971 , pp. 339 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bandura, A., Grusec, J. E., and Menlove, F. L. (1967). Vicarious extinction of avoidance behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 16–23.Google Scholar
Friedman, D. (1966). Treatment of a case of dog phobia in a deaf mute by behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 4, 141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogan, R. A., and Kirchner, J. H. (1968). Implosive, eclectic verbal and bibliotherapy in the treatment of fears of snakes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 6, 167–171.Google Scholar
Meyer, V., and Chesser, E. (1970). Behaviour Therapy in Clinical Psychiatry. Penguin: Harmondsworth.Google Scholar
Overton, D. A. (1966). State-dependent learning produced by depressant and atropine-like drugs. Psychopharmacologia (Berlin), 10, 6–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shanks, R. G. (1970). Personal communication.Google Scholar
Sherman, A. R. (1967). Therapy of maladaptive fear-motivaled behavior in the rat by the systematic gradual withdrawal of a fear-reducing drug. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 5, 121–129.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Solyom, L., Kenny, F., and Ledwidge, B. (1969). The evaluation of a new treatment paradigm for phobies. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 14, 3–9.Google Scholar
Watson, J. P. (1970). Communication in discussion at Second Behavioural Modification Conference, Kilkenny, Ireland, 1970.Google Scholar
Watson, J. P., Gaind, K., and Marks, I. M. (1971). Prolonged exposure: a rapid treatment for phobias. British Medical Journal, 1, 13–15.Google Scholar
Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition. Stanford University Press: Stanford, Calif.Google Scholar