Optimizing Exposure Using Occasional Aversive Imagery in Spider Fearful Individuals

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

67 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-06-15

Study Completion Date

2023-09-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The effectiveness of an optimized extinction training is investigated in spider-fearful individuals. Participants will undergo a one-session standardized extinction training, either with or without occasional metal imagination of most feared apprehension towards spiders. The effectiveness of the training is measured by symptom improvement according to subjective ratings and behavioural avoidance tests one week later.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Feasibility of an Online Modeled Exposure in Spider Fearful Individuals

NCT06182709

Spider Fear Arachnophobia

COMPLETED NA

Spider Phobia Opposite Action Treatment Study

NCT02905279

Specific Phobia

TERMINATED NA

Effects of Stress on Exposure Therapy

NCT03505437

Specific Phobia

COMPLETED NA

Neurophysiological Correlates of Exposition Therapy in Spider Phobia

NCT03653923

Phobic Disorders

UNKNOWN NA

Extinction Generalization in Exposure Therapy

NCT03031002

Specific Phobia

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The present study aims to investigate the applicability of an optimized exposure training using imagination. Exposure training is an effective approach to the treatment of various anxiety disorders. However, there are a significant number of patients who do not benefit or who develop anxiety following successful treatment. The process of extinction underlying exposure is the focus of current research on optimizing exposure. In this regard, one promising approach for improving extinction learning involves the occasional presentation of fear-generating stimuli (unconditioned stimuli \[US\]; often an electrical stimulus in experimental studies) during extinction (occasional reinforced extinction, ORE). Previous experimental studies provide preliminary evidence for a less pronounced return of fear after extinction training with occasional presentation of the US. In clinical practice, this strategy is recommended to optimize extinction learning in the treatment of individuals with anxiety. However, the transfer of the procedure used (real presentation of an unconditioned stimulus) into clinical practice seems difficult to realize. One way to facilitate the transfer of the ORE approach into clinical practice could be the use of vivid imagination of a personally relevant fear-generating situation during extinction training/exposure (e.g., patients' central concerns). Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the applicability of ORE using imagination. In this context, a standardized extinction training either with or without mental imagination of a personally relevant fear situation (e.g., central concern of the consequences when confronted with spiders) will be performed in individuals with spider-fearful individuals. The approach used for individuals with spider fear is well established and has been successfully implemented in previous studies by instructed trainers (e.g., individuals with a bachelor's degree in psychology). The aim of this randomized controlled trial in healthy individuals with increased fear of spiders is to investigate whether optimized extinction training (extinction training + imagination) is more effective in reducing fear of spiders in the long term compared to standard extinction training.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Spider Fear Arachnophobia

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Exposure + occasional aversive imagination

repeated imaginations of the participants' most feared apprehension during extinction training with seven standardized exposure steps

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

occasional aversive imagination

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

During six of the 27 exposure trials, participants in the experimental group are asked to imagine their most feared outcome towards spiders as vividly as possible while completing the specific trial.

Exposure

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

• All participants complete an exposure training session (approx. 75 min) with seven exposure steps, which are repeated between one and five times (e.g. Step 4: directing the spider with a pen by touching its legs at least five times per repetition; this step must be repeated five times before continuing to the next step). One repetition per step is considered one trial, therefore each participant aims to complete 27 exposure trials.

Exposure

Standard extinction training with seven standardized exposure steps

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exposure

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

• All participants complete an exposure training session (approx. 75 min) with seven exposure steps, which are repeated between one and five times (e.g. Step 4: directing the spider with a pen by touching its legs at least five times per repetition; this step must be repeated five times before continuing to the next step). One repetition per step is considered one trial, therefore each participant aims to complete 27 exposure trials.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

occasional aversive imagination

During six of the 27 exposure trials, participants in the experimental group are asked to imagine their most feared outcome towards spiders as vividly as possible while completing the specific trial.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exposure

• All participants complete an exposure training session (approx. 75 min) with seven exposure steps, which are repeated between one and five times (e.g. Step 4: directing the spider with a pen by touching its legs at least five times per repetition; this step must be repeated five times before continuing to the next step). One repetition per step is considered one trial, therefore each participant aims to complete 27 exposure trials.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Elevated score on Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ) \> 17

Exclusion Criteria

* Severe allergies to bees/spiders/insects
* current psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment
* past psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment due to anxiety problems
* current or past psychotic symptoms
* current suicidal intent
* experience with exposure-based treatment
* current psychopharmacological medication
* severe cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological diseases

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No