Enhancing Exposure Therapy for Snake and Spider Phobias
Condition: Specific Phobia
MeSH terms: Phobic Disorders
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2

Summary: 
      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.
    

Detailed description: 
      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.
    

Intervention name(s): Exposure Therapy with Retrieval; Exposure Therapy with Compound Extinction; Exposure Therapy with Retrieval and Compound Extinction; Therapist-guided Exposure Therapy
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): 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.; 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.; 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 brief fear retrieval trial. As a component of therapy, participants will also receive compound extinction.; Participants will receive one-session exposure therapy (up to 92 minutes) for fear of spiders or fear of snakes.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment