Final answer:
Systematic desensitization is a psychological technique used to treat phobias and anxiety by gradually exposing the patient to the fear in a controlled environment while using relaxation techniques. It also refers to a method in allergy treatment that modifies the immune response. Biofeedback, a related concept, uses electronic monitoring to help manage stress-related conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Systematic desensitization is a psychological technique developed for treating phobias, anxiety disorders, and other conditions that involve an excessive or inappropriate fear response. It is based on the principles of habituation — the ability to get used to something after being exposed to it repeatedly — and involves a graduated exposure to the feared stimulus while employing relaxation techniques. The process usually starts with the creation of an anxiety hierarchy — a list of feared situations ordered from least to most anxiety-provoking. The patient is then taught relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. After achieving relaxation, they are gradually exposed to the items on the hierarchy, starting with the least anxiety-provoking, and working up to the most feared scenario, all while maintaining a state of relaxation.
Desensitization therapy can also be used to treat allergies, as it modifies the immune response. Allergy desensitization involves the administration of desensitization injections which lead to the production of IgG antibodies. These antibodies can act as blocking antibodies, neutralizing the allergen before it can bind to IgE on mast cells, thereby preventing an allergic response.
Another related concept is biofeedback, which was developed by Gary Schwartz. Unlike systematic desensitization, biofeedback uses electronic equipment to measure physiological responses and provides feedback to the patient, allowing them to gain voluntary control over those responses, which can be beneficial in managing stress-related conditions.