Manipulations of exposure-based therapy to reduce return of fear: a replication
Abstract
Using exposure-based treatment for fear of heights, we tested two different manipulations, namely administering blocks of exposure trials on an expanding spaced schedule and varying the nature of the exposure, both of which have been shown to reduce return of fear [Rowe, M. K., & Craske, M. G. (1998a). Effects of an expanding-spaced versus massed exposure schedule on fear reduction and return of fear. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 701-718; Rowe, M. K., & Craske, M. G. (1998b). Effects of varied-stimulus exposure training on fear reduction and return of fear. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 719-734.]. The samples for these two studies included 23 and 34 undergraduates, respectively. Fear was assessed before, immediately after and one month after treatment using self-report and physiological measures. Study hypotheses were not strongly supported, but the manipulations did lead to different responses during treatment. The data suggest that physiological habituation is not necessary for fear reduction. Expanding spaced treatment may have increased generalization, and those in the constant and varied conditions responded to different aspects of the exposure. Reasons for the failure to replicate previous research and ideas for future research are discussed.
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A growing body of research shows that fear reduction within or between sessions is not necessary for better treatment outcome.
“In contrast, a growing body of research shows that fear reduction, either within or between sessions, is not imperative for better treatment outcome (e.g., Kozak et al., 1988; Lang & Craske, 2000; Rowe & Craske, 1988b; Tsao & Craske, 2000).”
From Does change in distress matter? Mechanisms of change in prolonged exposure for PTSD (2014) · cites this paper as Lang & Craske, 2000
A growing body of research shows successful treatment despite lack of between-session habituation.
“there is a growing body of research showing successful treatment despite the lack of between-session habituation (e.g., Kozak et al., 1988; Lang & Craske, 2000; Rowe & Craske, 1988b; Tsao & Craske, 2000).”
From Does change in distress matter? Mechanisms of change in prolonged exposure for PTSD (2014) · cites this paper as Lang & Craske, 2000
Among height-fearful college students, variable exposure and graded exposure produced comparable reductions in fear of heights.
“In a study of college students with a fear of heights, those who completed exposure in a random, variable manner by approaching the outside railing of various floors of a building in a random order experienced similar reductions in their fear of heights compared to those in the graded exposure condition, who went through exposure at gradually increasing heights.”
From Enhancing Inhibitory Learning: The Utility of Variability in Exposure (2019) · cites this paper as Lang & Craske, 2000
In that height-fear study, variable exposure led to larger decreases on the Beck Anxiety Inventory than graded exposure.
“However, those in the variable exposure group reported greater reductions on a broad measure of anxiety, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, than those in the graded exposure group (Lang & Craske, 2000).”
From Enhancing Inhibitory Learning: The Utility of Variability in Exposure (2019) · cites this paper as Lang & Craske, 2000
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References 23 · Cited by 149
- Authors
- Lang, A. J., & Craske, M. G.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lang, Ariel J
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2000-01
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-12
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1982261208
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale pour le Développement de la Recherche Universitaire
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- return of fear, exposure therapy, fear of heights, phobia treatment, fear reduction, generalization, replication
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Phobic Disorders, Reality Therapy
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