A study of the comparative effectiveness of systematic desensitization and implosive therapy

Systematic desensitization treatment was significantly more effective than implosive therapy in reducing avoidant behavior associated with mice and evidence of symptom substitution was absent for a period of seven to eight weeks following treatment.

Abstract

Fifty female undergraduate students demonstrating aversiveness to mice were assigned to three treatment groups based on response to two pre-treatment measures. One group received standard systematic desensitization treatment. A second group received implosive therapy while a third group was subjected to control procedures. Six measures were used to assess the comparative effectiveness of treatment and a follow-up study was conducted seven to eight weeks following treatment termination. The results of the present study indicated that: 1. Systematic desensitization treatment was significantly more effective than implosive therapy in reducing avoidant behavior associated with mice. 2. Implosive therapy treatment was no more effective than control procedures in reducing mouse avoidant behavior. 3. Changes produced by systematic desensitization were similar for the two therapists employed. 4. Evidence of symptom substitution was absent for a period of seven to eight weeks following treatment.