Enhancing Exposure Therapy for Snake and Spider Phobias

University of Texas at Austin120 enrolled

Overview

This study tests whether exposure therapy for fear of snakes or spiders is enhanced by the addition of a brief fear retrieval trial prior to treatment, and the use of compound extinction during treatment. The goal of the study is to determine whether these behavioral techniques enhance the efficacy of exposure therapy, one of the most empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders. Individuals between the ages of 18-65 with elevated fear of spiders or fear of snakes are randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions (1) standard exposure therapy, (2) exposure therapy with fear retrieval augmentation, (3) exposure therapy with compound extinction augmentation, and (4) exposure therapy with fear retrieval and compound extinction augmentations. 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 one week after treatment (follow-up). The pre-treatment assessment occurs 1-14 days prior to 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 6-14 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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

120

Conditions

Specific Phobia

Interventions

Exposure Therapy with RetrievalBEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive one-session exposure therapy (up to 92 minutes) for fear of spiders or fear of snakes. Thirty minutes prior to exposure therapy, participants will receive a fear retrieval trial, which is a brief exposure to the feared stimulus (snake or spider). Based on recent basic science research, the fear retrieval trial is expected to enhance the efficacy of exposure therapy.

Exposure Therapy with Compound ExtinctionBEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive one-session exposure therapy (up to 92 minutes) for fear of spiders or fear of snakes. As a component of therapy, participants will receive compound extinction, which consists of exposure to two feared stimuli simultaneously (two spiders or two snakes). Based on recent basic science research, compound extinction is expected to enhance the efficacy of exposure therapy.

Exposure Therapy with Retrieval and Compound Extinction

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18 to 65. 2. Speaks English fluently. 3. A score of 70 or higher on the Fear of Snakes/Spiders Questionnaire. 4. Demonstrates avoidance during behavioral approach tests (defined as inability to put palm flat on the bottom of a tank containing a snake/spider, and inability to touch a snake/spider with a bare finger). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Unstable dose of psychotropic medications during the 4 weeks prior to baseline assessment. 2. Currently receiving exposure-based treatment for snake/spider phobia. 3. Currently at risk for suicide.

Locations (1)

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in peak subjective fear (0 - 100), behavioral approach (0 - 4), and heart rate reactivity to a live snake/spider not used during treatment (generalization context) from pre-treatment to follow-up

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); follow-up (window of 6-14 days after treatment)

Secondary Outcomes

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); post-treatment (directly after the treatment procedure is completed)

Change in peak subjective fear (0 - 100), behavioral approach (1 - 8), and heart rate reactivity to a live snake/spider used during treatment (treatment context) from pre-treatment to follow-up

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); follow-up (window of 6-14 days after treatment)

Change in peak subjective fear (0 - 100), behavioral approach (1 - 8), and heart rate reactivity to a live snake/spider used during treatment (treatment context) from pre-treatment to post-treatment

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); post-treatment (directly after the treatment procedure is completed)

Change in Fear of Snakes/Spiders Questionnaire from pre-treatment to follow-up

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); follow-up (window of 6-14 days after treatment)

Change in Snake/Spider Belief Questionnaire from pre-treatment to follow-up

Time frame: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); follow-up (window of 6-14 days after treatment)

Change in Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire for Snake/Spider Phobia from pre-treatment to follow-up

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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