The reduction of anxiety in children: A comparison of the effects of ‘systematic desensitization in vitro’ and ‘systematic desensitization in vivo’

Abstract

Twenty-four children between the ages of 5 and 10. selected on the basis of fear of water, as determined by parents and swimming teachers, were divided into two experimental groups and one control group. One of the experimental groups was treated with four sessions of in vitro desensitization (gradual imaginal exposure to fear evoking stimuli plus relaxation), followed by four sessions of in vivo desensitization (real-life exposure to fear evoking stimuli plus relaxation). The other group received eight sessions of in vivo desensitization. The control group took part only in the tests, which were administered at the commencement of treatment, after four sessions, and at the end of the course of treatments. In testing, a behavior observation record was used to score the subject's behavior in the given situation; in addition, two teacher's records were used, in which swimming teachers recorded their evaluation of the subject's anxiety in each situation. Better results were achieved by desensitization in vivo than by desensitizalion in vitro or by the control procedure. No differences were found between the latter two groups. It could not be demonstrated that desensitization in vitro increased the effectiveness of subsequent desensitization in vivo