NCT00734422

Facilitation of Fear Extinction With Yohimbine Hydrochloride in Phobic Participants

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2 / Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 67 (actual)
• Sponsor: VU University of Amsterdam · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Procedurally Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is quite similar to models of extinction of conditioned fears. Recent advances in animal research have identified pharmacological agents that appear to both accelerate and consolidate extinction learning. One of these cognitive enhancers is Yohimbine. An interesting finding in animal literature is that the administration of Yohimbine during extinction trials accelerates fear reduction and may convert ineffective exposures in to successful ones. It is thought that the mechanism of enhanced emotional memory is through elevated norepinephrine in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, we propose to extend these studies by combining VRET with Yohimbine. In this pilot study with a between groups design 20 participants with a fear of flying will be treated with VRET plus Yohimbine or VRET plus placebo. This between groups design was chosen to further characterize the differential within and between trial extinction. Outcome will be measured by self-report, behavioral, and psychophysiological assessments at pre- and post-treatment. In addition, we will examine extinction parameters during exposures.

Conditions

• Phobic Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy	Standard virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of flying will be combined with the administration of either yohimbine hydrochloride or an inactive placebo pill.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-07-01
• Primary completion: 2009-06-01
• Completion: 2010-07-01
• First posted: 2008-08-14
• Last updated: 2018-09-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Netherlands