CBM in the Context of Exposure for Acrophobia

Ruhr University of Bochum

Status: Completed

Conditions: Acrophobia

Treatments: Behavioral: Active Cognitive Bias Modification training; Behavioral: One session exposure treatment; Behavioral: Sham Cognitive Bias Modification training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05780203

674

Details and patient eligibility

About

The proposed study will apply a one-session exposure treatment combined with CBM training modifying interpretational processing biases versus a sham training in acrophobic individuals. The main aim is to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying exposure treatment.

Full description

The present study will apply a one-session exposure treatment followed by a computerized interpretational training (CBM) or sham training in acrophobic individuals. By doing so, it aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying exposure, i.e., the role of cognitive change. Specifically, this study aims to enhance changes in disorder-relevant cognitive processing post-exposure, compared to a sham training. Further, we hope to improve both therapy outcomes and the generalization of therapeutic effects.

Enrollment: 81 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Informed consent
2. Sufficient German language skills to complete the experimental tasks and questionnaires
3. Aged between 18 and 65 years
4. Current primary diagnosis of acrophobia as defined by DSM-5 (based on DIPS)
5. Lives within reasonable travelling distance of the research center

Exclusion criteria

1. Currently in psychotherapeutic treatment
2. Impaired therapy capability (as judged by researcher/clinician)
3. Current diagnosis of substance use disorder (via DIPS)
4. Current or past diagnosis of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder (via DIPS)
5. Acute suicidality (via DIPS)
6. Diagnosis of chronical physical or neurological diseases (self-reported by participant)
7. Personality Disorder (via DIPS or via clinical judgement)
8. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (self-reported by participant or via DIPS)
9. Intellectual disability (self-reported by participant or via clinical judgment)
10. Women: pregnancy or breast feeding (self-reported by participant)
11. Intake of medication that could impede the effects of exposure therapy or CBM training (e.g., Lorazepam)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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81 participants in 2 patient groups

One session exposure treatment + active Cognitive Bias Modification training

Experimental group

Description:

The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum.

Treatment:

Behavioral: One session exposure treatment

Behavioral: Active Cognitive Bias Modification training

One session exposure treatment + sham Cognitive Bias Modification training

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the sham CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum.

Treatment:

Behavioral: One session exposure treatment

Behavioral: Sham Cognitive Bias Modification training