—Feel free to delete text if you are a photo blog—This animal model parallels OCD in hum
—Feel free to delete text if you are a photo blog—This animal model parallels OCD in humans. A behavioral association can be formed when participants are exposed to averse stimuli. Such as the lightbulb in the dog model, this averse stimuli can later trigger a fear response, even in a safe environment. Although a person’s compulsions seem to be irrational, they alleviate fear, and in doing so, become precautionary habit.Solomon and his colleagues were able to successfully extinguish the dogs’ unnecessary jumping. The experimenters raised the hurdle high enough that the dogs could not jump over, and then turned on the light (the conditioned stimulus, or rather what triggered a fear mechanism). When the light was switched on and the dogs realized that they could not jump over the hurdle they panicked. They barked, howled, scratched the walls of the pen, and urinated and defecated in fear. However, after a while, their panic subsided. Their frantic behavior ebbed, and after multiple trials they reacted calmly when the light was switched on. Even when the hurdle was lowered, they did not jump over any longer.This experiment with the frightened dogs was highly unethical. However, with consent, cognitive behavioral therapists will conduct the same extinction process described earlier with humans. This is referred to as exposure response prevention therapy (ERP) and is a huge stride to the field of psychology. ERP is now deployed with people with phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other anxiety disorders. ERP is “systematic, repeated, and prolonged exposure” to whatever situations or objects provoke a feeling of dread, and subsequently, the urge to compulse. You may have seen ERP deployed in reality shows such as Obsessed.Want to learn more? J. Abramowitz, The psychological treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. jabramowitz.com/uploads/1/0/4/8/10489300/canjpsychiatryreview.pdf-Lauren -- source link
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