This study investigates the beneficial effects of prefrontal brain stimulation (with a facilitating TMS protocol) before exposure therapy in acrophobic patients. The two exposure sessions were realized in virtual reality. Before and after therapy, the phobic symptoms were measured on a subjective, behavioral and physiological level. The placebo-controlled single blinded study includes 50 phobic patients, which were randomized into verum or sham TMS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
47
Intensity of 100 % of the resting motor threshold with 10 Hz and intertrial interval (ITI) of 26 s. 1560 pulse in 40 trains at all . One train lasts 4 s.
Sham stimulation with 10 Hz and ITI of 26 s. 1560 pulse in 40 trains at all . One train lasts 4 s.
University hospital
Würzburg, Germany
Subjective Anxiety Symptoms
Change in anxiety questionaire (Agoraphobia Questionaire (AQ), subscale anxiety) from pre (baseline) to post therapy (week 4). The range of the scale is from 0 to 120. Higher values indicate higher anxiety symptoms. For the calculated changes from pre to post this means, that more negative values indicate higher symptom reductions
Time frame: 4 weeks
Subjective Anxiety in Height Situation (BAT), Differences From Pre (Baseline) to Post Therapy (Week 4)
real life anxiety measurement by an behavioral approach test. Ratings on a 0-100 scale. Higher values indicate higher anxiety
Time frame: 4 weeks
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