Extinction Generalization in Exposure Therapy

NCT03031002 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ZL 59/2-2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 77
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Patients with anxiety disorders oftentimes express fear responses to more than only one fear-inducing object. The principal aim of this study is to examine whether the beneficial effects of exposure on fear reduction in spider phobia can extend to stimuli which are conceptually similar to spiders (i.e. cockroaches), but have never been presented during the respective treatment.

Conditions

Specific Phobia

Keywords

exposure; spider phobia; generalization; extinction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in the Behavioral Approach Test (BAT) from pre- to posttreatment

  Behavioral Approach Tests with Spiders and Cockroaches will be conducted at pre- and posttreatment. Here, the closest proximity a participant is able to attain to the spider/cockroach will be measured.

  Pre- and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Subjective Fear / Disgust during the Behavioral Approach Tests (BATs) using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)

  Pre-and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

• Change in Heart Rate during the Behavioral Approach Tests (BATs) from pre- to posttreatment

  Pre- and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

• Change in the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ)

  Pre- and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

• Change in the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ)

  Pre- and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

• Change in the Spider Beliefs Questionnaire (SBQ)

  Pre- and Posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

Other Outcomes (3)

• Epigenetic / DNA methylation

  Pre- and posttreatment (with approximately 4 days between pre- and posttreatment)

• Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS)

  Pretreatment (assessed once prior to treatment)

• Questionnaire for the Assessment of Disgust Sensitivity (FEE)

  Pretreatment (assessed once prior to treatment)

Study Arms (2)

Exposure Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants of this arm receive two 60-minute sessions of exposure treatment for spider fear

Behavioral: Exposure treatment for spider fear

No Exposure Treatment

NO INTERVENTION

Participants of this arm receive no exposure or other adequate treatment

Interventions

Exposure treatment for spider fear BEHAVIORAL

Two sessions (each session = 60 minutes) of in-vivo exposure treatment (including psychoeducation) with two different spiders. Exposures comprise a hierarchy of 7 steps, to be completed with both spiders.

Exposure Treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• spider phobia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) -IV criteria

You may not qualify if:

• any neurological or neuropsychiatric condition
• current behavioral or pharmacological treatment
• any mental disorder that is considered more severe than specific phobia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ruhr University of Bochum: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Phobia, Specific; Arachnophobia

Study Officials

• Armin Zlomuzica, Dr.

  Ruhr University of Bochum

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2017
• First Posted: January 25, 2017
• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2016
• Study Completion: July 1, 2016
• Last Updated: January 25, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share