Neural Activations During Imaginal Exposure in Individuals Fearful of Spiders

NCT03969160 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2017/419
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study explores the brain basis of imaginal exposure, a widely used psychological treatment technique. Specifically, this study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain areas activated during imaginal exposure, in individuals fearful of spiders. Physiological responses and subjective fear experienced during imaginal exposure are also assessed. The primary aim of this study is to explore differences in neural activity during exposure to phobic, compared to neutral, mental imagery. The study will focus primarily on exploratory whole brain analyses, but will also include regions of interest analyses on brain areas previously associated with imaginal exposure. The experimental procedure consists of repeated exposure to mental imagery, i.e. imagery of short durations, including either highly emotion-provoking or neutral content, prompted by verbal instructions. A secondary aim is to explore the effects of repeated exposure to mental imagery, used during the experimental procedure, on subjective fear and physiological responses.

Conditions

Individuals With Fear of Spiders

Keywords

Imaginal exposure; brain imaging; mental imagery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Blood oxygen level dependent contrast (BOLD-signal)

  BOLD-signal is assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

  Day 1

• Physiological response during exposure to mental imagery

  Skin-conductance responses are used as a measure of physiological response.

  Day 1

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Physiological response during exposure to mental imagery

  Follow-up (one week after day 1)

• Differences in physiological response during exposure to mental imagery, during day 1 compared to the follow-up session.

  Difference between day 1 and the follow-up session (one week after day 1)

• Ratings of subjective fear participants' expect to experience during exposure to mental imagery

  Day 1

• Ratings of subjective fear experienced during exposure to mental imagery

  Day 1

• Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S)

  Day 1

Other Outcomes (5)

• Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ)

  Recruitment

• Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)

  Day 1

• Number of intrusive mental imagery of phobic stimuli

  7 days, starting on day 1.

Study Arms (1)

Imaginal exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental procedure consists of imaginal exposure to mental imagery of phobic and neutral stimuli, prompted through recorded verbal instructions. Participants' repeat the experimental procedure one week later in a follow-up session. Brain imaging data is only collected during day 1

Behavioral: Imaginal exposure

Interventions

Imaginal exposure BEHAVIORAL

Imaginal exposure to mental imagery of phobic and neutral stimuli

Imaginal exposure

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Significant fear of spiders

You may not qualify if:

• Current psychiatric disorder other than spider phobia
• Substance abuse
• Neurological disease
• Psychological treatment or psychotropic medication within six months
• Magnetic resonance imaging contradiction

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uppsala University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Uppsala University Hospital - Akademiska sjukhuset

Uppsala, Sweden

Location

Uppsala University, Departement of Psychology

Uppsala, Sweden

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Implosive Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, Psychologic; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 24, 2019
• First Posted: May 31, 2019
• Study Start: November 11, 2017
• Primary Completion: February 14, 2018
• Study Completion: February 22, 2018
• Last Updated: May 31, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-05

Locations

SE (2)