An Experimental Investigation of Desensitization in Phobic Patients

Abstract
The investigation had three major aims. We attempted to repeat and extend the findings of the Gelder, Marks and Wolff (1967) study of the comparative efficacy of desensitization and psychotherapy in the treatment of phobic patients. Our second aim was to isolate the effects of various components of desensitization treatment, in the manner employed in laboratory studies of fear-reduction (e.g. Davison, 1968; Rachman, 1965; Rachman, 1968). The third aim was to collect data on the relationships between psychophysiological changes and clinical outcome.