title: One-session group therapy of spider phobia: direct versus indirect treatments.
abstract: Forty-six patients with spider phobia, fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia, were assessed with behavioral, physiological and self-report measures. They were randomly assigned to three group treatment conditions: (1) direct treatment; (2) direct observation; and (3) indirect observation. All treatments were carried out in large groups of eight patients, and consisted of one 3 hr session of massed exposure and modelling. The results showed that on the behavioral test, measures and the specific self-report measures of spider phobia the direct treatment was significantly better than direct observation and indirect observation, which did not differ. On the physiological measures and the psychopathology self-report measures there were significant pre-post improvements, but no differences between the groups. The effects were maintained or furthered at the one year follow-up assessment. The proportion of clinically significantly improved patients were, at post-treatment, 75% in the direct treatment, 7% in the direct observation, and 31% in the indirect observation group. At follow-up, the corresponding figures were 75, 14, and 44%, respectively. The conclusion that can be drawn is that direct treatment is the treatment of choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ost
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferebee
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furmark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013112:Spiders; D016896:Treatment Outcome