Spider Phobia Opposite Action Treatment Study

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Specific Phobia

Treatments: Behavioral: Exposure Therapy; Behavioral: Exposure with Threat-Relevant Opposite Actions; Behavioral: Exposure with Threat-Irrelevant Opposite Actions; Behavioral: Biofeedback Relaxation Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02905279

2015-07-0020

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study tests the effectiveness of exposure therapy for fear of spiders as enhanced by the use of antagonistic or opposite actions during treatment. The goal of the study is to compare the efficacy threat-relevant opposite actions and threat-irrelevant opposite actions in extinguishing fear.

Full description

This study tests whether exposure therapy for fear of spiders can be enhanced with the use of opposite actions, which are actions opposite to fear-related action tendencies. The investigators will test two sub-types of opposite actions (a) threat-relevant opposite actions, which are actions antagonistic to specific threats associated with spider phobia, and (b) threat-irrelevant opposite actions, which are actions antagonistic to the fear response, but unrelated to specific threats associated with spider phobia. This exposure therapy enhanced with opposite actions will be compared with two control groups: standard exposure therapy and non-specific anxiety treatment (biofeedback relaxation training).

Individuals between the ages of 18-65 with elevated fear of spiders are randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions (1) biofeedback relaxation training, (2) standard exposure therapy, (3) exposure therapy with threat-relevant opposite actions, and (4) exposure therapy with threat-irrelevant opposite actions. All participants undergo an online prescreen and a face-to-face screening assessment to determine eligibility and baseline (pre-treatment) symptom severity. Participants additionally complete assessments directly after treatment (post-treatment), and approximately two weeks after treatment (follow-up). The pre-treatment assessment occurs on the same day as treatment, the post-treatment assessment occurs during the treatment visit as soon as the treatment procedure is complete, and the follow-up assessment occurs within a window of 14-21 days after the completion of treatment. Participants complete two behavioral approach tests (in the treatment context and in the generalization context) at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up. Participants complete a battery of self-report questionnaires at pre-treatment and follow-up.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• At Prescreen:

  • Total score of greater than or equal to 70 on the Fear of Spiders - Questionnaire (with higher scores indicating higher fear levels).
  • Indicates ongoing fear of spiders and inability to complete close approach towards spiders on brief questionnaire.

• At Screening visit: inability to complete close approach toward spiders as determined by the treatment context and generalization context Behavioral Approach Tests

Exclusion criteria

• Currently receiving psychotherapy for spider phobia

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 4 patient groups

Biofeedback

Active Comparator group

Description:

Biofeedback Relaxation Training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Biofeedback Relaxation Training

Standard Exposure

Active Comparator group

Description:

Exposure Therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure Therapy

Exposure with Threat-Relevant OAs.

Experimental group

Description:

Exposure with Threat-Relevant Opposite Actions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure with Threat-Relevant Opposite Actions

Exposure with Threat-Irrelevant OAs

Experimental group

Description:

Exposure with Threat-Irrelevant Opposite Actions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure with Threat-Irrelevant Opposite Actions