title: Can a one-hour session of exposure treatment modulate startle response and reduce spider fears?
abstract: Preliminary evidence suggests that 3 hours of behavior therapy can reduce fear responses to phobic stimuli. Most of this research, however, has relied on self-reports and clinician assessments, and failed to include a comparison group. To extend this literature, with 32 adults with spider phobia, we investigated the effects of a single hour of in vivo exposure on subjective and electrophysiological aspects of fear; comparisons were made to a wait-list control group. Pre- and post-assessments included phobia-relevant questionnaires and startle reflex responses to spider, negative, neutral and positive stimuli. Compared to the control group, our one-hour treatment reduced self-reported and physiological responses to spider stimuli. These data provide preliminary support for the ability of affective startle modulation to be changed by very brief exposure therapy.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA. tkashdan@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Todd B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kashdan
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hawk
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013216:Reflex, Startle; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists