Enhancing Exposure Therapy for Snake and Spider Phobias

Completed · Phase 1/Phase 2

Conditions studied: Specific Phobia

In brief

This study tests whether exposure therapy for fear of snakes or spiders is enhanced by the addition of a brief fear retrieval trial prior to treatment, and the use of compound extinction during treatment. The goal of the study is to determine whether these behavioral techniques enhance the efficacy of exposure therapy, one of the most empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02160470

Run by

University of Texas at Austin

People needed

120

Starts

2012-08-01

Expected to finish

2019-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2020-12-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18 to 65.
• Speaks English fluently.
• A score of 70 or higher on the Fear of Snakes/Spiders Questionnaire.
• Demonstrates avoidance during behavioral approach tests (defined as inability to put palm flat on the bottom of a tank containing a snake/spider, and inability to touch a snake/spider with a bare finger).

You may not qualify if…

• Unstable dose of psychotropic medications during the 4 weeks prior to baseline assessment.
• Currently receiving exposure-based treatment for snake/spider phobia.
• Currently at risk for suicide.

Where it is running

• University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.