Optimizing Exposure Therapy Via Reward-focused Interventions in Individuals With Public Speaking Anxiety

Summary

The present study aims to examine whether the efficacy of an exposure treatment in individuals with public speaking anxiety can be enhanced by implementing interventions that target reward processes. Optimized exposure enriched with reward-focused interventions will be compared to exposure in combination with interventions targeting cognitive flexibility. The efficacy of the exposure training will be assessed by behavioural and self-report measures of public-speaking anxiety at baseline (before intervention), intermediate-assessment (7-9 days after baseline assessment) and post-assessment (at least 7-9 days after intermediate-assessment). The investigators expect that exposure optimized by implementing reward-focused interventions is more effective in reducing public speaking anxiety compared to exposure in combination with interventions targeting cognitive flexibility.

Conditions

• Public Speaking Fear

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

reward-focused intervention

Participants complete three interventions based on the Positive Affect Treatment: * Finding the silver lining includes attending to and appreciating positive aspects of past events * Taking ownership includes identifying the personal behavioral contribution to rewarding past experiences * Imagining the positive includes training the prospective, positive imagination of future events Participants are asked to practice these interventions at least three times a week (approx. 15 mins each) until the next training session.

BEHAVIORAL

cognitive flexibility intervention

This training aims to promote cognitive flexibility in the context of public speaking situations. The intervention is based on the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. Participants will be trained to identify and modify non-adaptive thoughts occurring in the context of public speaking situations.

BEHAVIORAL

exposure

All participants undergo an exposure training session lasting approximately 90 minutes, which includes three exposure trial where participants give a speech, each lasting 5 minutes. Exposure exercises are enriched with interventions of the respective treatment group (either reward-focused or cognitive flexibility interventions).

BEHAVIORAL

Psychoeducation

All participants received information on anxiety, and the maintenance of anxiety as well as a rationale for the exposure session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Philipps University Marburg

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Christoph Benke, PhD · Philipps University Marburg

• Anton Regorius, PhD · Philipps University Marburg

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-08

Primary Completion

2024-12-13

Completion

2024-12-13

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations