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22nd February 2024

Treatment

  • CBT is the first line treatment, consisting of 1-5 sessions. It involves challenging the negative emotions associated with exposure to the phobic stimuli. 
  • Exposure therapy. Used in addition to CBT in those with avoidant behaviours. When an actual threat isn’t present, the body will remain anxious for a short period of time until habituation occurs. This is when anxiety levels or fear begin to decrease. Exposure therapy causes the individual to be exposed to what they fear, without being able to avoid, distract themselves or seek any soothing behaviours, until habituation occurs. With each exposure event, the levels of anxiety are expected to decrease.
    • Direct exposure – phobic stimuli, pictures, video clips or VR are used to produce disgust or fear
    • Interoceptive stimuli – physical sensations feared by individuals are recreated, for example in those fearful of becoming short of breath in certain situations are encouraged to hold their nose to recreate a sense of shortness of breath.  
  • Applied tension therapy. Used in those with blood-injection-injury phobias. Individuals are encouraged to repeatedly tense and relax the muscles in their abdomen and limbs. This is thought to increase their blood pressure and heart rate and prevent a vasovagal episode when, for example, having their blood taken. 
  • Pharmacotherapy. Benzodiazepines are used in the short term to calm individuals, for example for medical tests e.g. MRI or procedures e.g. endoscopy. SSRIs are used in those with co-morbid mood or anxiety disorders. 

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