The British Journal of Psychiatry 129: 361-371 (1976)
© 1976 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Imaginal flooding and exposure to real phobic situations: treatment outcome with agoraphobic patients

AM Mathews, DW Johnston, M Lancashire, M Munby, PM Shaw and MG Gelder

Each of thirty-six female agoraphobic out-patients were treated by one of three methods: 8 sessions of imaginal flooding followed by 8 sessions of practice in the real situation; 16 sessions of combined flooding and practice; or 16 sessions of practice alone. Three therapists treated equal numbers of patients in each group, and there was some evidence that patients' response varied according to the therapist seen, irrespective of treatment group. There were no significant differences between treatment groups after 8 sessions, 16 sessions or on six-month follow-up. It is concluded that there are no long-term differences between the effects of treatments involving exposure to either imaginal or real phobic situations or to a combination of both, provided that patients are encouraged to practise between sessions.