Short-Term Psychotherapy of “Phobia of Travel”

Psychotherapy of phobias.

“…Such evidence as there is seems to be against the view that phobics have been subjected to markedly intense fear stimuli. Friedman (1950), in a study of 50 phobics, reported that only about 10% could indicate specific frightening events that precipitated the phobia. And Waldfogel et al (1957) went even further, stating that school phobic children, by virtue of having been overprotected, have if anything been exposed to fewer major frightening experiences than other children.…”

“…In the same vein, Friedman (1950), in his study of 50 patients with "phobia of travel," noted that for many the phobia was a way out of a difficult situation in which two or more people were exerting equally dominating but conflicting pressures on the phobic (for example, parents versus husband), and the only other alternative would have involved open defiance of someone.…”

“…46]." Friedman (1950), who treated 50 "phobias of travel" and employed psychodynamic interpretations in a rather didactic way ("it was explained to the patient that . .…”

“…This, of course, suggests the hypotheses that when only one or neither of these two factors is present, therapy should be ineffective. Thus, support without encouragement should produce a comfortable continuance of the existing phobicdependent pattern, as discussed specifically by Fenichel (1945), Friedman (1950), Freud (1959c, Gill and Brenman (1943), Klein (1945), Rodriguez, Rodriguez, and Eisenberg (1959), Talbot (1957), andTucker (1955). All these authors specifically warn against the dangers of simply being helpful, guiding, and protective with the phobic; such an approach, they say, merely perpetuates the status quo.…”

The role of disinihibition in the aetiology, maintenance, and relapse of phobias: Implications for behaviour therapy

“…Instead it is reasonable to assume from investigations by Marks ( 1965) that separation anxiety, as with inhibited feelings, may be precipitated and maintained by the same change or process which precipitated and maintained the phobia. Some reports note that phobias do not respond to therapy while a strong dependent-nurturant relationship exists between the patient and the family (Andrews, 1966;Friedman, 1950;Lazarus, 1971). Although such relationships may well explain resistance to treatment in that the patient and others seek to maintain the consequent dependency the phobia ensures, the notion of secondary gain does not account for relapse.…”