The paper describes a group desensitization program aimed at assisting students to perform to the best of their ability in a testing situation if they suffer from extreme debilitating anxiety. Since the problem is pervasive and the number of trained limited, the author suggests that the group program is an efficient and effective method of…

A variety of desensitization and counterconditioning procedures have been utilized to deal with school-related problems. These procedures are reviewed with respect to applications for treating school phobia, test anxiety, and other academic anxieties. (Author)

Fifteen stutterers (aged 5-16) were treated using graded airflow, tension/relaxation, and electromyographic biofeedback to reduce stuttering frequency. In a second study, addition of a discriminative stimulus control procedure to maintain fluency made the treatment program more effective than the first study and achieved a level of <1% stuttered…

Speech-anxious students were assigned to self-administered treatment conditions: (1) systematic desensitization, (2) desensitization with meditation replacing progressive relaxation, and (3) meditation only. Treatment manuals included coping-skill instructions. Treatments were equally effective in reducing anxiety and produced a greater reduction…

Although fearful avoidance of school is a complex and serious problem among school-age children, there are techniques available to professionals for assisting children to overcome school-related anxiety. It is important for school personnel to identify school-phobic children and to assist in planning the earliest possible intervention. (Author)

This study compared the effectiveness of systematic desensitization and the directed experience hypnotic technique in reducing self-reported test anxiety and increasing the academic performance of test-anxious undergraduates (N=36). The results are discussed as evidence for systematic desensitization as the more effective treatment in reducing…

Examined effectiveness of preventive stress inoculation program for adolescents (n=48) that consisted of progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and assertiveness training. Compared with control subjects, trainees showed significantly greater improvements on self-report measures of trait anxiety and stress-related symptoms at…

This article presents an example of two boys who have received a list of diagnoses including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, Asperger's syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and clinical depression. Both boys received a variety of interventions ranging from behavior modification plans to counseling and medication,…

Two elementary teachers were given systematic desensitization and behavior modification training to help them manage their feelings of anxiety and establish classroom control. Changes in teacher and student classroom behavior were recorded through daily observations by trained observers. The observers recorded teacher praise and criticism as well…

This symposium paper describes 2 experiments in which the principles of observational learning were applied in school settings to the treatment of 2 separate groups of test-anxious junior high school students. The first experiment was designed to test the assumption that the counter-conditioning responses thought to occur in systematic…

Speech-anxious students ranging in age from 17 to 48 were offered a four-week speech anxiety group. Treatment groups demonstrated significantly greater speech anxiety reduction than the no-treatment controls at postassessment and follow-up assessment. (Author/MFD)

Changes in self-concept as a function of behavioral treatment for test anxiety are investigated. Test-anxious subjects (N=72) were randomly assigned to systematic desensitization, relaxation-training only, or no-treatment control conditions. Results indicate that the desensitization and relaxation treatments were both effective in reducing test…

Rather than coach students into stereotypes, the author recommends the use of techniques designed to teach them how to relax and project their true personalities. (Editor)

Identifies social, academic, and career adjustment problems resulting from college students' apprehension of communication situations. Describes a ten-hour program designed to reduce communication anxiety and presents the results of the program, along with other helpful suggestions. (Author)

Describes the development of a science anxiety clinic. Discusses the primary psychological components of the clinic including cognitive restructuring, systematic desensitization, and multimodal behavior therapy. Presents two components of science learning: study skills and science classroom interaction. Summarizes implications for counselors. (RC)