An interventional study of 7-day exposure therapy via self-developed app according to (Haberkamp et al., submitted) and Therapist-guided one-session online exposure therapy according to (Öst, 1989) in Spider Phobia, sponsored by Anke Haberkamp. Completed at 2 sites in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-08.
Sponsored by Anke Haberkamp · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Mobile applications are more and more considered when implementing programs for treating mental disorders. The study aims to reduce avoidance and fear of spiders in spider-fearful individuals by combining exposure principles with gamification elements (e.g. narrative background, level progression, points, feedback). We investigate the efficacy of the gamified app in a remote online-therapy context.
Participants must
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will be deemed ineligible if they do not meet the above inclusion criteria or
Participants play the spider gamification app twice a day for 7 days
Behavioral: 7-day exposure therapy via self-developed app according to (Haberkamp et al., submitted)
Participants receive a therapist-guided one-session online exposure therapy and play the spider gamification app twice a day for 7 days
Behavioral: 7-day exposure therapy via self-developed app according to (Haberkamp et al., submitted) · Behavioral: Therapist-guided one-session online exposure therapy according to (Öst, 1989)
Participants receive a therapist-guided one-session online exposure therapy and play a non-spider gamification app twice a day for 7 days
Behavioral: Therapist-guided one-session online exposure therapy according to (Öst, 1989)
Confrontation with spiders via gamified app
Also known as: Spider Gamification App
Massed exposure therapy over the course of one single session, applied in a remote-online context
Also known as: Online exposure
Change in avoidance behavior (Behavioral Approach Task; BAT)
Scores range from 0 ("participant refuses to enter the room with spider") to 12 ("participant holds the spider at least for 20 sec").
Time frame: Baseline; (after one-session exposure if applied); Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
Change in spider fear (Spider Phobia Questionnaire; SPQ)
The scale ranges from 0-31. High scores reflect high subjective levels and low scores low subjective levels of spider fear.
Time frame: Baseline; Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
Change in spider fear: Spider-Anxiety Questionnaire (FAS)
The scale ranges from 0-108. High scores reflect high subjective levels and low scores low subjective levels of spider fear.
Time frame: Baseline; Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
Change in disgust before and after playing the app
Seven-point rating scale scoring from 0 to 6: high scores reflect high levels and low scores low levels of experienced disgust; participants play twice a day (between 8 - 11 am and 4 - 7 pm); ratings are part of the app
Time frame: Before starting and immediately after completing the game
Change in arousal before and after playing the app
Seven-point rating scale scoring from 0 to 6: high scores reflect high levels and low scores low levels of experienced arousal; participants play twice a day (between 8 - 11 am and 4 - 7 pm); ratings are part of the app
Time frame: Before starting and immediately after completing the game
Change in anxiety before and after playing the app
Seven-point rating scale scoring from 0 to 6: high scores reflect high levels and low scores low levels of experienced anxiety; participants play twice a day (between 8 - 11 am and 4 - 7 pm); ratings are part of the app
Time frame: Before starting and immediately after completing the game
Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
Measures severity of depression; The scale ranges from 0-63: 0-13 minimal depressive symptoms; 14-19 mild symptoms; 20-28 moderate symptoms; 29-63 severe symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)
Measures clinically relevant psychological symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
German version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)
Standardised satisfaction measurement
Time frame: (after one-session exposure if applied), Post-treatment (1-week after baseline); 3-week follow-up (4-weeks after baseline)
Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)
Questionnaire assessing the quality of new user-oriented health applications
Time frame: Post-treatment (1-week after baseline)
Plan to share: Yes — Share anonymized IPD via a general-purpose open-access repository
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