Treatment of acrophobia of an institutionalized adult with mental retardation

Treatment of an institutionalized 34-year-old female with mental retardation (who may have been psychotic) for acrophobia was described. Prior to therapy her phobia had precluded her placement in an upper-level ward. Assessment and therapy took place over 6 weeks and involved 13 sessions, totalling 15 hours of graduated exposure. A further 10 hours of therapy were undertaken 7 months later due to the demands of her new setting. Eighteen-month follow-up indicated that all gains had been maintained. Unprogrammed generalization was limited.