Cognitive factors in the maintenance of injection phobia

White, C. and Sellwood, W. (1995) Cognitive factors in the maintenance of injection phobia. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23(1), pp. 57-61. (doi: 10.1017/S135246580001763X)

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Abstract

Injection phobia is a “specific phobia” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) in which affected individuals display an atypical physiological response pattern resulting in vasovagal hypotensive fainting on prolonged exposure. Between 50–60% of people with injection phobia report a history of fainting when confronted with their phobic situation. Applied tension has been demonstrated to be an effective therapeutic intervention for blood phobia in which similar vasovagal responses occur (Öst, Fellenius and Stelner, 1991). It has been shown that cognitive factors can prevent engagement with the treatment of phobic disorders. A case meeting DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia, blood-injection-injury type (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) is described. It illustrates that cognitive factors may prevent full compliance with applied tension and that behavioural experimentation is a useful strategy for dealing with such phenomena.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:White, Professor Craig
Authors: White, C., and Sellwood, W.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:1352-4658
ISSN (Online):1469-1833

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