The therapeutic use of tape-recorded repetitions of flooding stimuli.

This clinical report describes an enhancement of imaginal flooding therapy developed in clinical practice with outpatient phobics. During the session, anxiety-producing fantasies are solicited, and the verbalizations immediately preceding peaks in emotional arousal are captured on a three-minute repeating "endless loop" cassette tape. Patients' repeated exposure to the recording, in the office and as homework, enhances the efficiency and economy of imaginal flooding.