Physiological habituation to continuous phobic stimulation

Ten phobic patients were monitored physiologically during treatment by prolonged exposure to their phobic situations in fantasy and in practice. Heart rate and skin conductance habituated steadily during treatment, while subjective anxiety did so rather more slowly. Even after habituation to treatment in fantasy, physiological responses were still evoked by exposure in real life until, with continuing exposure, habituation occurred to the real situation as well. Physiological responses were closely related to those aspects of the phobic situation which were presented in treatment. Physiological improvement paralleled clinical improvement.