Interventions for Individuals With High Levels of Needle Fear: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trials.
BACKGROUND
This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of exposure-based psychological and physical interventions for the management of high levels of needle fear and/or phobia and fainting in children and adults.


METHODS
A systematic review identified relevant randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials of children, adults, or both with high levels of needle fear, including phobia (if not available, then populations with other specific phobias were included). Critically important outcomes were self-reported fear specific to the feared situation and stimulus (psychological interventions) or fainting (applied muscle tension). Data were pooled using standardized mean difference (SMD) or relative risk with 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
The systematic review included 11 trials. In vivo exposure-based therapy for children 7 years and above showed benefit on specific fear (n=234; SMD: -1.71 [95% CI: -2.72, -0.7]). In vivo exposure-based therapy with adults reduced fear of needles posttreatment (n=20; SMD: -1.09 [-2.04, -0.14]) but not at 1-year follow-up (n=20; SMD: -0.28 [-1.16, 0.6]). Compared with single session, a benefit was observed for multiple sessions of exposure-based therapy posttreatment (n=93; SMD: -0.66 [-1.08, -0.24]) but not after 1 year (n=83; SMD: -0.37 [-0.87, 0.13]). Non in vivo e.g., imaginal exposure-based therapy in children reduced specific fear posttreatment (n=41; SMD: -0.88 [-1.7, -0.05]) and at 3 months (n=24; SMD: -0.89 [-1.73, -0.04]). Non in vivo exposure-based therapy for adults showed benefit on specific fear (n=68; SMD: -0.62 [-1.11, -0.14]) but not procedural fear (n=17; SMD: 0.18 [-0.87, 1.23]). Applied tension showed benefit on fainting posttreatment (n=20; SMD: -1.16 [-2.12, -0.19]) and after 1 year (n=20; SMD: -0.97 [-1.91, -0.03]) compared with exposure alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure-based psychological interventions and applied muscle tension show evidence of benefit in the reduction of fear in pediatric and adult populations.
*Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph †Children's Health Research Institute ‡Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London ∥Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy ‡‡Department of Psychiatry ##Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto ¶The Hospital for Sick Children #Department of Psychology, Ryerson University ††Department of Psychology, York University ¶¶Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON **Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK §§Departments of Pediatrics, Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University ∥∥Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada §Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Martin M
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Gordon J G
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Rebecca Pillai
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Christine T
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Vibhuti
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic