OBJECTIVE: Cognitive models of anxiety disorders posit that biases in interpretation maintain, and potentially cause, anxiety. This study tested whether it is possible to decrease height fear symptoms through cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I). Additionally, the clinical utility of CBM-I was tested by comparing it to an already established treatment: exposure therapy. METHOD: Extremely height fearful individuals (N = 110) participated in the study. Acrophobic symptoms were measured before and after 2 sessions of CBM-I and were compared to the standard treatment for acrophobia (exposure therapy), a combination of CBM-I and exposure therapy, and a Control condition. RESULTS: In line with hypotheses, participants in the 3 active conditions showed greater response to treatment than the Control condition in height-relevant interpretation bias, symptoms, and behavioral avoidance on a height stressor, with few differences between the active conditions. Further, symptom change was mediated by change in interpretation bias. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, findings suggest that different pathways to fear reduction (exposure vs. shifting interpretations) can lead to similar reductions in height fear. This study provides the first evidence that directly shifting cognitive processing, even with no therapist involvement, can reduce symptoms as effectively as the gold standard, therapist-directed exposure therapy. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE: Cognitive models of anxiety disorders posit that biases in interpretation maintain, and potentially cause, anxiety. This study tested whether it is possible to decrease height fear symptoms through cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I). Additionally, the clinical utility of CBM-I was tested by comparing it to an already established treatment: exposure therapy. METHOD: Extremely height fearful individuals (N = 110) participated in the study. Acrophobic symptoms were measured before and after 2 sessions of CBM-I and were compared to the standard treatment for acrophobia (exposure therapy), a combination of CBM-I and exposure therapy, and a Control condition. RESULTS: In line with hypotheses, participants in the 3 active conditions showed greater response to treatment than the Control condition in height-relevant interpretation bias, symptoms, and behavioral avoidance on a height stressor, with few differences between the active conditions. Further, symptom change was mediated by change in interpretation bias. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, findings suggest that different pathways to fear reduction (exposure vs. shifting interpretations) can lead to similar reductions in height fear. This study provides the first evidence that directly shifting cognitive processing, even with no therapist involvement, can reduce symptoms as effectively as the gold standard, therapist-directed exposure therapy. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.
Authors: Jennifer O Bowler; Bundy Mackintosh; Barnaby D Dunn; Andrew Mathews; Tim Dalgleish; Laura Hoppitt Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2012-09-10
Authors: Sarah E Dreyer-Oren; Elise M Clerkin; Cierra B Edwards; Bethany A Teachman; Shari A Steinman Journal: J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry Date: 2018-08-03
Authors: Shari A Steinman; Nauder Namaky; Sarah L Toton; Emily E E Meissel; Austin T St John; Nha-Han Pham; Alexandra Werntz; Tara L Valladares; Eugenia I Gorlin; Sarai Arbus; Miranda Beltzer; Alexandra Soroka; Bethany A Teachman Journal: Cognit Ther Res Date: 2020-10-21
Authors: Kristen P Lindgren; Reinout W Wiers; Bethany A Teachman; Melissa L Gasser; Erin C Westgate; Janna Cousijn; Matthew C Enkema; Clayton Neighbors Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-08-04 Impact factor: 3.240