Resumo

GOME, Laura et al. Use of Exposure Techniques in a Psychology Clinic. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2014, vol.13, n.2, pp.715-724. ISSN 1657-9267.  https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.UPSY13-2.utec.

The aim of this work is to explore the use of exposure techniques at the health care context of a clinical psychology facility. Different modalities of exposure techniques, their frequency of usage - both across the entire sample and considering different diagnostic groups - and their relationship to the treatment results, were analysed. From the 880 patients with diverse diagnosis treated at the University Psychology Clinic of the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, 67.2% were women, with a mean of32.79 years. Results show that exposure techniques were used in 39.5% of total cases, being gradual exposure the most frequent (31.6%). Exposure techniques were employed foremost on anxiety disorders (70.8%), somatoform disorders (47.4%), and sexual disorders (47.1%). Also, it was observed that exposure techniques were used more often in cases with one or more comorbid diagnosis (55.4 vs. 36.3%). 74.1% of the patients treated with exposure techniques received therapeutic discharge, while 61.9% of patients not treated with exposure techniques were discharged. The results are discussed, emphasizing the utility of exposure techniques to treat avoidant or fearful behaviour regardless of the diagnosis.

Palavras-chave : Exposure techniques; gradual exposure; systematic desensitization; flooding; treatment results.

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