In Wolpe's systematic desensitization, which measure is used to gauge the client's distress?

In Wolpe's systematic desensitization, which measure is used to gauge the client's distress?

• A. Visual Analog Scale
• B. Beck Depression Inventory
• C. Likert scale
• D. Subjective units of disturbance scale

Answer: (D)

In Wolpe’s systematic desensitization, distress is tracked with the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS). This is a self-report measure where the client rates their current anxiety or distress on a scale, typically from 0 (no distress) to 100 (extreme distress). The SUDS provides a real-time, subjective index of how anxious a person feels at each step of the exposure hierarchy and during relaxation, which helps the therapist pace progress and ensure anxiety decreases as exposure proceeds. This approach is well-suited here because the goal is gradual, repeated exposure combined with relaxation, so having a simple, sensitive gauge of subjective distress is essential for guiding advancement and confirming that the client can remain calm while approaching more challenging stimuli. Other scales mentioned are more general or assess different constructs: a visual analog scale can measure various subjective states but isn’t specific to the desensitization process; the Beck Depression Inventory assesses depressive symptoms; a Likert scale is a generic rating method not tailored to monitoring moment-by-moment distress during exposure.

In Wolpe’s systematic desensitization, distress is tracked with the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS). This is a self-report measure where the client rates their current anxiety or distress on a scale, typically from 0 (no distress) to 100 (extreme distress). The SUDS provides a real-time, subjective index of how anxious a person feels at each step of the exposure hierarchy and during relaxation, which helps the therapist pace progress and ensure anxiety decreases as exposure proceeds.

This approach is well-suited here because the goal is gradual, repeated exposure combined with relaxation, so having a simple, sensitive gauge of subjective distress is essential for guiding advancement and confirming that the client can remain calm while approaching more challenging stimuli.

Other scales mentioned are more general or assess different constructs: a visual analog scale can measure various subjective states but isn’t specific to the desensitization process; the Beck Depression Inventory assesses depressive symptoms; a Likert scale is a generic rating method not tailored to monitoring moment-by-moment distress during exposure.