CBM in the Context of Exposure for Acrophobia
- Conditions
- Acrophobia
- Interventions
- Behavioral: One session exposure treatmentBehavioral: Sham Cognitive Bias Modification trainingBehavioral: Active Cognitive Bias Modification training
- Registration Number
- NCT05780203
- Lead Sponsor
- Ruhr University of Bochum
- Brief Summary
The proposed study will apply a one-session exposure treatment combined with CBM training modifying interpretational processing biases versus a sham training in acrophobic individuals. The main aim is to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying exposure treatment.
- Detailed Description
The present study will apply a one-session exposure treatment followed by a computerized interpretational training (CBM) or sham training in acrophobic individuals. By doing so, it aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying exposure, i.e., the role of cognitive change. Specifically, this study aims to enhance changes in disorder-relevant cognitive processing post-exposure, compared to a sham training. Further, we hope to improve both therapy outcomes and the generalization of therapeutic effects.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 81
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description One session exposure treatment + active Cognitive Bias Modification training One session exposure treatment The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum. One session exposure treatment + sham Cognitive Bias Modification training One session exposure treatment The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the sham CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum. One session exposure treatment + sham Cognitive Bias Modification training Sham Cognitive Bias Modification training The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the sham CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum. One session exposure treatment + active Cognitive Bias Modification training Active Cognitive Bias Modification training The exposure treatment will be administered at the tower of the German Mining museum. The day after the exposure session, patients will complete the CBM training in the lab of the Mental Health and Research Center of Ruhr University Bochum.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Acrophobia-related interpretational processing biases as measured using the Encoding Recognition Task baseline, post-training (~1 week post-baseline) Acrophobia-related interpretational processing biases will be measured using a modified version of the Encoding Recognition Task (ERT, Salemink \& van den Hout, 2010). Bias scores of the Encoding Recognition Task can range from -4 to +4, with lower scores indicating a more negative interpretation bias.
The primary outcome is change in bias score from baseline to post-training.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Acrophobia-related interpretational processing biases as measured using the Encoding Recognition Task baseline, pre-training (~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) Acrophobia-related interpretational processing biases will be measured using a modified version of the Encoding Recognition Task (ERT, Salemink \& van den Hout, 2010). Bias scores of the Encoding Recognition Task can range from -4 to +4, with lower indicating a more negative interpretation bias.
Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ) baseline, post-training (~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) The Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ; Steinman \& Teachman, 2011) asks participants to rate the likelihood of eight negative interpretations for two height-related, ambiguous scenarios. Scores can range from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome.
Behavioral Approach Task (BAT) baseline, post-training (~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) With the Behavioral Approach Task (BAT), participants' behavioral approach tendencies to height-relevant situations will be assessed by instructing participants to go as high as possible at the emergency staircase at the therapy center and asking participants to rate their subjective fear with the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS; Wolpe 1973). Scores can range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater fear.
Danger/ Anxiety Expectancy Scale (DES/AES) baseline, post-training (~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) The Danger/ Anxiety Expectancy Scale (DES/AES; Gursky \& Reiss, 1987) asks participants to rate the likelihood of potential harmful events passing through their mind and the likelihood to experience anxiety symptoms if confronted with heights. Scores can range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome.
Scrambled Sentences Task (SST) post-training (~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) Modified version of the Scrambled Sentences Task (Wenzlaff \& Bates, 1998), including 20 height-related items that can be unscrambled into positive or negative statements.
Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ) baseline, pre-training (1 day after exposure; ~1 week post-baseline), follow-up (~5 weeks post-baseline) The Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ; Cohen, 1977) asks participants to rate their anxiety and avoidance behavior for 20 common height-related situations. Scores can range from 0 to 160, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Mental Health and Research Center, Ruhr University of Bochum
🇩🇪Bochum, Germany