Exposure Therapy Consortium (ETC) for Anxiety Sensitivity

Summary

The current study seeks to test differences between a single-session large-group format of standard exposure, enhanced exposure, and a control condition in treating anxiety sensitivity. It is hypothesized that 1) participants assigned to either exposure condition will evidence greater reductions in anxiety sensitivity from pre-treatment to posttreatment relative to those in the control condition; 2) participants assigned to the enhanced exposure condition will evidence greater reductions in anxiety sensitivity from pre-treatment to posttreatment relative to those in the standard exposure condition. The investigators will test putative moderators and mechanisms of action. Prior to initiating the study for purposes of data analyses, the investigators will pilot study procedures during Spring 2020.

Conditions

• Elevated Anxiety Sensitivity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Standard Exposure

The standard intervention will include an orientation and psychoeducation phase, an exposure practice phase consisting five repeated trials per each of the three exposure exercises, and a post-exposure exercise. The post-exposure exercise will involve completing a set of questions regarding the exercises and the group experience.

BEHAVIORAL

Stress Management Training

Stress management training (SMT) is designed to help people better cope with feelings of anxiety that accompany high levels of anxiety sensitivity. SMT will involve group instruction in healthy ways to experience and cope with stress whenever difficult situations arise. Participants will teach participants ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, targeting things like nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene. This intervention will also involve progressive muscle relaxation training.

BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Exposure

The enhanced intervention will include an orientation and psychoeducation phase, an exposure practice phase consisting five repeated trials per each of the three exposure exercises, and a processing exercise. The post-processing exercise will involve completing a set of questions that will highlight harm expectancy violations.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Colorado, Boulder

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Miami

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Mississippi, Oxford

  collaborator OTHER

• Ruhr University of Bochum

  collaborator OTHER

• Boston University

  collaborator OTHER

• Fordham University

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of New South Wales

  collaborator OTHER

• Southern Methodist University

  collaborator OTHER

• Institute of Behavioral-Therapy and -Medicine at the Philipps University Marburg

  collaborator OTHER

• Technische Universität Dresden

  collaborator OTHER

• Curtin University

  collaborator OTHER

• Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Göttingen

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Texas at Austin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jasper Smits, PhD · The University of Texas at Austin

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-10-01

Primary Completion

2024-07-01

Completion

2024-07-01

Countries

• United States
• Australia
• Germany
• Israel

Study Locations