The impact of hydrocortisone on inhibitory learning in specific phobia

Not Applicable

• Conditions: specific phobia (animal type; spider phobia) according to DSM-IV criteria; F40.2; Specific (isolated) phobias

• Registration Number: DRKS00011570
• Lead Sponsor: Ruhr-Universität Bochum,Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Completion: 2016-08-11
• Study Start: 2017-01-25
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Complete
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 47

Inclusion Criteria

BMI = 19-27; specific phobia according to DSM-IV criteria (animal type; spider phobia)

Exclusion Criteria

* any mental disorder that is considered more severe than spider phobia as well as any current psychological/psychiatric treatment
* any somatic / neurological / endocrine / metabolic disease
* pharmacological treatment
* pregnancy
* smoking > 5 cigarettes per month
* drug or alcohol abuse

Study & Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Effects of hydrocortisone on fear renewal:<br>at follow-up (4 weeks after exposure), behavioral approach tests (BATs) with spiders will be conducted in the familiar context (i.e. treatment context) or a novel context.<br>During the behavioral approach tests, heart rate will be measured and subjective fear will be assessed using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUD)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Effects of hydrocortisone on inhibitory learning in specific phobia:<br>at all assessments (i.e. pre-exposure, post-exposure, follow-up, long-term follow-up) we will use the following measures: a) BATs (during which heart rate and subjective fear will be measured; b) spider fear related questionnaires (i.e. Fear of Spiders Questionnaire; Spider Phobia Questionnaire; Spider Beliefs Questionnaire; c) salivary cortisol;<br>Control variables comprise depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy and emotion regulation which will be assessed using questionnaires. Participants will complete these questionnaires at pre-treatment.<br>