Desensitization and Phobias: A Cross-over Study

The results of a comparative trial of desensitization and psychotherapy for phobias have been reported (Gelder, Marks and Wolff, 1967). Desensitization was found to have a rapid and rather specific effect on phobic symptoms, which was followed by improvement in social adjustment. During group and individual psychotherapy, phobias and other symptoms changed more slowly and social adjustment often improved without any corresponding improvement in phobias. At the end of the investigation the phobias of 14 of the original 26 psychotherapy patients had shown no worthwhile improvement. Six months later, another follow-up showed that 5 had improved further, leaving 9 still unimproved. It was decided to try the effects of desensitization with these patients, particularly in view of a finding by Lazarus (1961) that desensitization helped patients who had not responded to a very brief form of group psychotherapy. As Lazarus worked with volunteer subjects rather than psychiatric patients, and as his “group therapy” averaged only eight weeks, his finding required confirmation before it could be applied to psychiatric patients.