NCT03031002

Extinction Generalization in Exposure Therapy

Extinction Generalization in Exposure Therapy for Spider Phobia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 77 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ruhr University of Bochum · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Detailed description

Fear extinction has evolved as the central mechanism underlying exposure-based treatments. Findings from conditioning studies indicate that fear reduction following a fear extinction procedure can generalize from the extinction stimulus to other conceptually and perceptually related stimuli. This study is aimed at translating these findings to a clinical application and will hence examine whether the basic principles of extinction generalization are applicable to exposure. Patients with spider phobia will either receive two sessions of in-vivo exposure with spiders or no treatment. Prior to as well as after treatment, patient's fear of spiders will be assessed using the Behavioral Approach Test (BATs) and self-report questionnaires. In addition, BATs with cockroaches will be conducted to examine the effects of exposure therapy on extinction generalization.

Conditions

• Specific Phobia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exposure treatment for spider fear	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-02-01
• Primary completion: 2016-07-01
• Completion: 2016-07-01
• First posted: 2017-01-25
• Last updated: 2017-01-25