Extinction Generalization in Exposure Therapy

NCT ID: NCT03031002

Last Updated: 2017-01-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 77 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2016-07-31

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.

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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Exposure Treatment

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

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure treatment for spider fear

Intervention Type: 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.

No Exposure Treatment

Participants of this arm receive no exposure or other adequate treatment

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

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

Exclusion Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ruhr University of Bochum

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Armin Zlomuzica

Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Armin Zlomuzica, Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ruhr University of Bochum

Other Identifiers

ZL 59/2-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id