Anti-phobic and Safety Behaviors in the Treatment of Acrophobia

Specific Phobia Clinical Trial

Official title: Anti-phobic and Safety Behaviors in the Treatment of Acrophobia

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

This study tests whether a single session of exposure therapy may be enhanced by the addition of anti-phobic actions beyond the mere fading of safety behaviors. A total of 100 acrophobic participants will be randomly assigned to receive standard exposure therapy (EXP), exposure therapy with safety behavior fading (EXP + SBF), exposure with safety behavior fading and anti-phobic actions (EXP + SBF + AA), or to a wait-list control group (WL).

Clinical Trial Description

This study tests whether a single session of exposure therapy may be enhanced by the addition of one of two augmentation strategies, including engagement in anti-phobic actions and fading of safety behaviors. Because utilization of safety behaviors is functionally precluded by anti-phobic action, the present study design will both replicate and extend prior research by addressing whether anti-phobic actions enhance exposure therapy beyond the mere fading of safety behaviors. A total of 100 individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 meeting DSM-IV criteria for acrophobia (fear of heights) will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions including (1) standard exposure therapy, (2) exposure therapy with safety behavior fading, (3) exposure therapy with safety behavior fading and anti-phobic actions, and (4) a wait-list control condition. All participants will complete an online prescreen and face-to-face screening assessment to determine eligibility and pre-treatment symptom severity. Participants will also complete assessments at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up assessments. Subjective fear during two behavioral approach tests (in the treatment and generalization context, respectively) conducted at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 1-month follow-up assessments will serve as the primary measure of treatment outcome. Additionally, a battery of self-report questionnaires will be completed at pre-treatment, during treatment, at post-treatment, and at a 1-month follow-up assessment. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Specific Phobia

• NCT number: NCT02085343
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Texas at Austin
• Contact: Adam R. Cobb, MA
• Phone: 325-201-4228
• Email: adamrcobb@utexas.edu
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 2013
• Completion date: May 2018