Behavioral Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Phobias

Abstract

In this review the current status of the assessment and treatment of childhood fears and phobias is described. Consistent with our definition of child behavioral assessment as an "exploratory, hypothesis-testing" process, we review a range of specific procedures including behavioral interviews, self-report instruments, rating scales, behavioral observation, self-monitoring, and physiological assessment. We conclude that a maximal amount of information is obtained with such practices and that no single procedure, including direct behavioral observation, is sufficient alone. Following review of assessment practices, we examine those behavioral strategies frequently used in the reduction of fears and phobias in children. Strategies derived from principles of classical, vicarious, and operant conditioning, as well as recent advances in information processing theory, are reviewed and evaluated critically. We conclude that, for the most part, these procedures are effective at least in the short run. We make a call for studies that examine the long-term efficacy of these procedures, for comparative studies to determine the superiority of these procedures over more traditional ones, and for comparative studies among the behavioral procedures themselves. Finally, we highlight important developmental issues that need to be attended to before continued and significant progress in this area of study can be realized.