Results of Systematic Desensitization with Phobias Re-examined
- 1 July 1970
- journal article
- Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists in The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 117 (536), 89-92
- https://doi.org/10.1192/s0007125000192190
Abstract
In the published results of controlled trials of systematic desensitization with phobic patients there has been a consistent trend apparently overlooked by the authors. If this trend is valid, it means the results of such therapy with agoraphobic patients have been better, and those with patients with specific phobias worse than the authors have concluded. Understandably, the authors' interpretation of their results have been accepted and in fact used to discredit the value of behaviour therapy (Mayer, 1969). If an interpretation of results of trials which indicates that treatment is of considerable value is overlooked, and one which indicates that it is of little value stressed, the reason for this should be examined. Psychiatry is not so rich in demonstrably useful therapies that it can afford to allow one to be discredited before it is adequately evaluated. Yet this attitude is not limited to the above trials but is also commonly found in the reports of drug trials (McConaghy, 1966).Keywords
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