Impact of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms on the Effects of Exposure Therapy in Anxiety Disorders

Phase 4

• Conditions: Potential participants are snake fearful individuals that may also meet the criteria of a specific phobia according to ICD-10 (F40.2). However, meeting these criteria is not essential for participating in the study. Snake fearful individuals are requried to meet criteria of a specific phobia expect for significant subjective suffering and impairment.

• Registration Number: DRKS00016183
• Lead Sponsor: niversität des SaarlandesKlinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-01-16
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Pending
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

1. Fear of snakes [defined as a score of 10 or higher using the Snake Anxiety Questionnaire and a fear score = 4 and an avoidance score = 3 in the section 'Specific Phobia' in the Diagnostic Interview for Mental Disorders (DIPS, Diagnostisches Interview für psychische Störungen) + BAT score = 4].
2. 18 year = age = 40 years
3. No mental disorders expect for a specific phobia of snakes.
4. Use of an oral contraceptive.
5. No severe physical health issues.
6. No permanent medication, except for oral contraceptives and L-Thyroxin for the treatment of thyroid disorders.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Mental disorders expect for specific phobia of snakes.
2. Severe physical health issues (e.g. hearth diseases, diabetes, etc.).
3. No use of an oral contraceptive.
4. Permanent medications (expect for oral contraceptives and L-Thyroxin).

Study & Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fear of snakes measured using a Behavioral Approach Test (minimal tolerable distance of an individual to a real snake).<br><br>Time of assessment: T1 (screening phase), T2 (after exposition), T3 (follow up, 1 week after T2), T4 (follow up, 4 weeks after T2)<br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fear of snakes measured using the Snake Anxiety Questionnaire (SNAQ, German: SCAF, Krieger, 1987)<br><br>Time of assessment: T1 (screening phase), T2 (after exposition), T3 (follow up, 1 week after T2), T4 (follow up, 4 weeks after T2)<br><br>Cortisol and alpha-amylase<br><br>Time of assessment: Daytime profile on the day of exposure and during the exposure session