Maintenance of disorders

In psychopathology many processes can lead to the maintenace of symptoms once onset has begun. For example the occurence of a phobia may be maintained by continuing patterns of avoidance which prevent the occurence of oppurtunities in which the anxiety and fear can be unlearnt in the presence of the phobic stimulus.

As Ingram & Price (2010) these maintenance factors are not regarded as causal and are often minimized