Optimizing exposure in the treatment of anxiety in youth: Facing fears in big or small steps?

Recruiting

• Conditions: specific fear; Specific phobia; 10002861

• Registration Number: NL-OMON49153
• Lead Sponsor: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Last Update Posted: 18 June 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Sex: Not specified
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged between 8-17 years old and in primary or secondary school • Sufficient
knowledge of the Dutch language • Meeting the criteria of a specific phobia of
the situational or animal subtype either one of the following subtypes: o
Animal: fear of pets, insects, spiders, small reptiles and amphibians, farm
animals, birds o Natural environment: fear of heights, darkness, thunder, fire
o Medical: fear of blood, needles, medical or dental care, injury, choking o
Situational: fear of enclosed places, elevators, escalators, using one specific
type of transportation (cars, buses, trains, ships) o Other: fear of loud
sounds, fireworks, costumed characters, amputated limbs, fruit etc

Exclusion Criteria

• Absence of permission of legal guardian(s) • Currently in treatment or
receiving medication for anxiety • Received CBT for anxiety in the past 12
months • Specific phobia that do not fall cannot be treated with either
in-session or out-session exposure due to absence of available phobic stimuli,
for example: o Animal: fear of zoo animals o Natural environment: fear of
water, lightning, storms, fires o Medical: fear of invasive medical procedures,
infection, vomiting o Situational: fear of using multiple types of
transportation (cars, buses, trains, ships), plane flights o Other: fear of
open spaces etc. • Different and more urgent request for help • (Risk of)
suicidality, psychosis or domestic violence

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main study parameter is specific phobia diagnosis of the of the animal,<br /><br>natural environment, medical, situational or other subtype.</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Secondary:<br /><br>Out-session fear<br /><br>Fearful cognitions<br /><br>Bodily tension<br /><br>Avoidance<br /><br>Coping<br /><br>In-session fear<br /><br>In-session harm expectancy<br /><br>Approach behaviour<br /><br>Self-efficacy<br /><br><br /><br>Other:<br /><br>Healthcare costs<br /><br>Quality of life<br /><br>Specific phobia severity<br /><br>General comorbidity<br /><br>Comorbid anxiety and depression<br /><br>Demographic variables<br /><br>Credibility and expectancy of the treatment<br /><br>Treatment satisfaction<br /><br>Treatment integrity<br /><br>Therapeutic alliance</p><br>