Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
40 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2015-09-22
2016-10-04
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Gradual Exposure Group
The gradual exposure group received the Gradual Exposure (EXP-G) Intervention.
Gradual Exposure (EXP-G)
In EXP-G, exposure proceeded hierarchically from mildly, to moderately, to highly intense stimuli so that exposure intensity gradually built between (but not within) sessions.
Variable Exposure Group
The variable exposure group received the Variable Exposure (EXP-V) Intervention.
Variable Exposure (EXP-V)
In EXP-V, exposure stimuli were chosen at random (i.e., pieces of paper with exposure stimuli written on them were pulled randomly from an opaque container) so that mild, moderate, and high intensity exposures could occur in any order during any of the sessions (the participant was not informed which level was coming next). This aimed to maximize (a) uncertainty, (b) variability in exposure intensity, and (c) variability in corresponding physiological arousal.
Interventions
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Gradual Exposure (EXP-G)
In EXP-G, exposure proceeded hierarchically from mildly, to moderately, to highly intense stimuli so that exposure intensity gradually built between (but not within) sessions.
Variable Exposure (EXP-V)
In EXP-V, exposure stimuli were chosen at random (i.e., pieces of paper with exposure stimuli written on them were pulled randomly from an opaque container) so that mild, moderate, and high intensity exposures could occur in any order during any of the sessions (the participant was not informed which level was coming next). This aimed to maximize (a) uncertainty, (b) variability in exposure intensity, and (c) variability in corresponding physiological arousal.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Willing to attend and audiotape all study sessions
* Fluent in English
* Presence of one or more obsessional thoughts that cause marked distress
* If on a psychiatric medication (e.g., SSRI), willing to remain at a fixed dose while participating in the study (and stabilized on medication for 30 days before beginning the intervention).
Exclusion Criteria
* Current suicidal ideation
* Current substance use disorder
* Current mania or psychosis
* Currently taking an anxiolytic (e.g., Ativan) or stimulant (e.g., Ritalin) medication
* Heart, respiratory, or neurological condition
* Current pregnancy
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
UNKNOWN
American Psychological Association (APA)
OTHER
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Jon Abramowitz, PhD
Professor, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Principal Investigators
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Jonathan S Abramowitz, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Locations
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Countries
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References
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Jacoby RJ, Abramowitz JS, Blakey SM, Reuman L. Is the hierarchy necessary? Gradual versus variable exposure intensity in the treatment of unacceptable obsessional thoughts. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2019 Sep;64:54-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Feb 26.
Other Identifiers
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5101599
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
5103050
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
14-3310
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id