Feasibility of an Online Modeled Exposure in Spider Fearful Individuals
NCT ID: NCT06182709
Last Updated: 2025-10-02
Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
78 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-12-11
2025-09-05
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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This study aims to investigate the applicability of observational learning and its sustainability through mental retrieval cues. Specifically, the study is going to assess the feasibility of modeled exposure conveyed either live or online via video, offering a practical approach within a stepped-care framework. The modeled exposure treatment will be followed by a group exposure treatment to assess the influence of modeled exposure in spider-fearful individuals.
Physically healthy spider-fearful individuals will be either treated with an online or live modeled standardized exposure followed by a group exposure treatment. Half of the participants will receive a mental retrieval cue before the group exposure treatment one day after the modeled exposure treatment. The research aims to determine if long-term reduction of spider fear is achievable through online modeled exposure via video compared to in-person modeled exposure.
Conditions
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Study Design
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NON_RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
TRIPLE
Study Groups
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online modeled exposure + mental retrieval cue group exposure
online modeled exposure training followed by group exposure training, including mental retrieval cue with five standardized exposure steps
online psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video online. This will be followed by a modeled exposure online. In this modeled exposure participants watch a film of an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
group exposure
Exposure training in the group is conducted live (1 spider per participant, one therapist and co-trainers). In this group exposure participants complete exposure training (about 45 min) with five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to three times: 2,4,5).
mental retrieval cue
Before the group exposure, participants are asked to remember the modeled exposure they had observed the day before. Therefore, the participants are asked to recall the location where they have been during the modeled exposure and the reaction of the patient during the exposure (e.g., fear decline).
live modeled exposure + mental retrieval cue group exposure
live modeled exposure training followed by group exposure training, including mental retrieval cue with five standardized exposure steps
live psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video. This will be followed by a live modeled exposure. In this modeled exposure participants watch an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted live with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
group exposure
Exposure training in the group is conducted live (1 spider per participant, one therapist and co-trainers). In this group exposure participants complete exposure training (about 45 min) with five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to three times: 2,4,5).
mental retrieval cue
Before the group exposure, participants are asked to remember the modeled exposure they had observed the day before. Therefore, the participants are asked to recall the location where they have been during the modeled exposure and the reaction of the patient during the exposure (e.g., fear decline).
online modeled exposure + standardized group exposure
online modeled exposure training followed by group exposure training with five standardized exposure steps
online psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video online. This will be followed by a modeled exposure online. In this modeled exposure participants watch a film of an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
group exposure
Exposure training in the group is conducted live (1 spider per participant, one therapist and co-trainers). In this group exposure participants complete exposure training (about 45 min) with five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to three times: 2,4,5).
live modeled exposure + standardized group exposure
live modeled exposure training followed by group exposure training with five standardized exposure steps
live psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video. This will be followed by a live modeled exposure. In this modeled exposure participants watch an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted live with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
group exposure
Exposure training in the group is conducted live (1 spider per participant, one therapist and co-trainers). In this group exposure participants complete exposure training (about 45 min) with five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to three times: 2,4,5).
Interventions
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online psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video online. This will be followed by a modeled exposure online. In this modeled exposure participants watch a film of an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
live psychoeducation video + modeled exposure
Participants will watch a short psychoeducation video. This will be followed by a live modeled exposure. In this modeled exposure participants watch an exposure treatment (about 45min) conducted live with one participant and the therapist. The exposure training consists of five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to four times: 2,4,5).
group exposure
Exposure training in the group is conducted live (1 spider per participant, one therapist and co-trainers). In this group exposure participants complete exposure training (about 45 min) with five exposure steps (step 1: describing the spider, step 2: catching the spider with a glass, step 3: describing the spider, step 4: touching the spider with the dominant index finger, step 5: letting the spider walk on the participant hands; the following steps have to be repeated up to three times: 2,4,5).
mental retrieval cue
Before the group exposure, participants are asked to remember the modeled exposure they had observed the day before. Therefore, the participants are asked to recall the location where they have been during the modeled exposure and the reaction of the patient during the exposure (e.g., fear decline).
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
* Current psychiatric/psychotherapeutic 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 respiratory, neurological or cardiovascular diseases
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Philipps University Marburg
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Christiane A. Melzig, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Philipps University Marburg
Jana Gessner, M.Sc.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Philipps University Marburg
Locations
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Philipps-University Marburg
Marburg, Hesse, Germany
Countries
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References
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Craske MG, Treanor M, Conway CC, Zbozinek T, Vervliet B. Maximizing exposure therapy: an inhibitory learning approach. Behav Res Ther. 2014 Jul;58:10-23. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2014.04.006. Epub 2014 May 9.
Golkar A, Selbing I, Flygare O, Ohman A, Olsson A. Other people as means to a safe end: vicarious extinction blocks the return of learned fear. Psychol Sci. 2013 Nov 1;24(11):2182-90. doi: 10.1177/0956797613489890. Epub 2013 Sep 10.
Ost LG, Ferebee I, Furmark T. One-session group therapy of spider phobia: direct versus indirect treatments. Behav Res Ther. 1997 Aug;35(8):721-32. doi: 10.1016/s0005-7967(97)00028-4.
Mystkowski JL, Craske MG, Echiverri AM, Labus JS. Mental reinstatement of context and return of fear in spider-fearful participants. Behav Ther. 2006 Mar;37(1):49-60. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2005.04.001. Epub 2006 Feb 24.
Olsson A, Phelps EA. Social learning of fear. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Sep;10(9):1095-102. doi: 10.1038/nn1968.
Wannemueller A, Appelbaum D, Kuppers M, Matten A, Teismann T, Adolph D, Margraf J. Large Group Exposure Treatment: a Feasibility Study in Highly Spider Fearful Individuals. Front Psychol. 2016 Aug 9;7:1183. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01183. eCollection 2016.
Other Identifiers
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OMEX_SPIDER
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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