Exposure With Acceptance-Based Versus Habituation-Based Rationale for Public Speaking Anxiety
1 other identifier
interventional
45
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to compare two exposure-based behavioral group treatments for public speaking anxiety. Specifically, exposure within the context of psychological acceptance will be compared to exposure within a standard habituation context. It is hypothesized that participants receiving exposure within the context of psychological acceptance will experience a greater decrease in anxiety and greater improvement in quality of life compared to the habituation-based group.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started Feb 2009
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 1, 2009
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 11, 2009
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 12, 2009
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 1, 2009
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
November 1, 2009
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
June 2, 2014
CompletedJune 2, 2014
May 1, 2014
9 months
February 11, 2009
May 1, 2014
May 1, 2014
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Number of Participants in Remission (Per Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID))
The SCID (First, Spitzer, Gibbon, \& Williams, 1996) is an extensively utilized structured diagnostic interview based on DSM-IV criteria. Estimates of interrater reliability range from moderate to high for most Axis I disorders (e.g., Williams et al., 1992; Zanarini \& Frankenburg, 2001).
6-weeks post-treatment
Study Arms (2)
Exposure w/ Acceptance-Based Rationale
EXPERIMENTALBehavioral exposure within the context of psychological acceptance.
Exposure w/ Habituation-Based Rationale
ACTIVE COMPARATORBehavioral exposure within the context of habituation.
Interventions
Treatment focuses on the ineffectiveness of participants' past attempts to control or reduce their anxiety in public speaking situations. Acceptance of one's private experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations) will be introduced. "Willingness" to experience unwanted thoughts and feelings while simultaneously engaging in valued activities, especially those related to public speaking, is stressed. Techniques designed to foster psychological acceptance are practiced prior to and during exposure exercises, as well as assigned for homework between sessions.
Exposure to feared public speaking situations are accompanied by explanations of behavioral principles, including classical/operant conditioning and habituation. The process of associating public speaking situations with unwanted feelings of anxiety will be discussed, as well as negative reinforcement of escape and avoidance behaviors. The underlying principle of habituation is reviewed. When engaging in exposure exercises (both in session and assigned homework exercises), participants will be encouraged to remain in the feared speaking situation until their subjective ratings of anxiety decrease.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Clinically diagnosable public speaking anxiety (per DSM-IV-TR criteria for nongeneralized social anxiety disorder)
- Aged 18-65
- Residence in the greater Philadelphia area
You may not qualify if:
- Pervasive developmental disability
- Acute suicide potential
- Inability to travel to the treatment site
- Certain comorbid Axis I diagnoses, namely:
- generalized SAD
- schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
- current substance dependence
- Comorbid diagnoses of Major Depressive or other mood or anxiety disorders are acceptable ONLY if clearly secondary to the diagnosis of public speaking anxiety
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102, United States
Related Publications (1)
England, E.L., Herbert, J.D., Forman, E.M., Rabin, S.J., Juarascio, A., & Goldstein, S. (2012). Acceptance-based exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 1(1), 66-72.
RESULT
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Dr. Erica England
- Organization
- Department of Veterans Affairs (formerly Drexel University)
Study Officials
- STUDY DIRECTOR
James D Herbert, Ph.D.
Drexel University
- STUDY DIRECTOR
Evan M Forman, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor of Psychology
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 11, 2009
First Posted
February 12, 2009
Study Start
February 1, 2009
Primary Completion
November 1, 2009
Study Completion
November 1, 2009
Last Updated
June 2, 2014
Results First Posted
June 2, 2014
Record last verified: 2014-05