title: Reaching new heights: comparing interpretation bias modification to exposure therapy for extreme height fear.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Shari A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Teachman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome