3. An Overview of Therapeutic Applications of Habituation and Sensitization
Habituation and sensitization could be used to help patients become less receptive to stimuli that interferes with their ability to function. Therapies which include habit reversal training, sensory integration therapy, exposure therapy, and chronic pain management depend on these mechanisms. A scientific method of treatment for anxiety disorders, such as phobias, OCD, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is exposure therapy. Three things which are required for exposure therapy to be most useful are fear activation, minimizing anxiety-reducing behaviors, and habituation. Which is the premise of the habituation model, an important concept in exposure therapy. In a safe and supervised setting, patients are progressively exposed to the stimuli that causes them fear or anxiety. With the process of habituation, the person's worry or fear decreases as the exposure continues. The concept of habituation can be seen in action, for instance, when a person who has a fear of heights is g...