Behavior therapy and the treatment of flight phobia.

Research since 1960 was reviewed to compare the relative efficacy of behavior therapy and other therapy modalities in the treatment of flight phobias in trained military aircrew, commercial flight crews, and civilian air travellers. Results indicated that treatment programs involving behavior therapy techniques appeared to have a higher success rate than treatment programs not involving these techniques, especially in cases of focal fear with acute onset under stressful conditions. Other conditions for optimal outcome are outlined and hypotheses for a more programmatic research effort discussed.