Psychotherapy study to examine whether exposure-based psychotherapy for anxiety disorders is particularly effective when endogenous cortisol levels are high
Completed
- Conditions
- Specific Phobia (Spider Phobia) / PsychotherapyMental and Behavioural DisordersSpecific (isolated) phobias
- Registration Number
- ISRCTN76072597
- Lead Sponsor
- niversity of Saarland (Germany)
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Completed
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 60
Inclusion Criteria
Participation is restricted to:
1. Healthy, non-smoking women, aged 18-60
2. Using oral contraceptives
3. Body mass index between 20-25 mg²
Exclusion Criteria
1. Recent history of systemic or oral cortisol therapy
2. Any axis I disorder (other than spider phobia)
3. Severe acute or chronic disease (e.g. lung or heart diseases)
4. Allergic reactions to insect bites
5. Pregnancy and lactating
5. Current pharmacological treatment or psychotherapy
6. We also require patients to refrain from physical exercise, alcohol and caffeinated drinks within 3 hours prior to therapy
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Behavioural Approach Test (BAT): To test the patients? fear and avoidance of living spiders participants are asked to approach a living house spider that is placed in a sealed container. The patient?s behaviour is rated on a scale from 0 to 12, where 0: refusal to enter the room and 12: holding the spider for at least 20 seconds.<br><br>Measured at baseline (prior to treatment), one week after treatment, and three months (12-14 weeks after treatment).
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Fear of Spider Questionnaire (FSQ): The FSQ is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure spider phobia. It consists of 18 items that refer to a restricted time period and are rated on a seven point scale.<br><br>Measured at baseline (prior to treatment), one week after treatment, and three months (12-14 weeks after treatment).