Review of the Relative Efficacy of Imaginal andIn VivoFlooding in the Treatment of Clinical Fear

Abstract

The present review concerns the relative efficacy of imaginal and in vivo flooding in the treatment of debilitating fear. It has generally been concluded that in vivo flooding is superior to flooding in imagery. However, in the present review, serious methodological weaknesses were found to exist in a number of studies which have been frequently cited as demonstrating the superiority of in vivo flooding. In addition, recent empirical studies are reviewed which cast doubt on the belief that in vivo flooding is superior to imaginal flooding. Overall, little support was found for recent recommendations advocating the abandonment of methods of imaginal exposure in the treatment of clinical fear.