A Spiderless Arachnophobia Therapy: Comparison between Placebo and Treatment Groups and Six-Month Follow-Up Study. (27th June 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Granado, Laura Carmilo; Ranvaud, Ronald; Peláez, Javier Ropero
• Other Names: Venault Patrice Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neural transplantation & plasticity. Volume 2007(2007)
• Publication Date: 2007-06-27
• Subjects: Nerve tissue -- Transplantation -- Periodicals; Neuroplasticity -- Periodicals; Nerve tissue -- Transplantation; Neuroplasticity; Neuronal Plasticity -- Periodicals; Computer network resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.82
• DOI: 10.1155/2007/10241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0792-8483

Abstract

Abstract : We describe a new arachnophobia therapy that is specially suited for those individuals with severe arachnophobia who are reluctant to undergo direct or even virtual exposure treatments. In this therapy, patients attend a computer presentation of images that, while not being spiders, have a subset of the characteristics of spiders. The Atomium of Brussels is an example of such an image. The treatment group (n = 13 ) exhibited a significant improvement (time× group interaction:P = .0026 ) when compared to the placebo group (n = 12 ) in a repeated measures multivariate ANOVA. Ak -means clustering algorithm revealed that, after 4 weeks of treatment, 42% of the patients moved from the arachnophobic to the nonarachnophobic cluster. Six months after concluding the treatment, a follow-up study showed a substantial consolidation of the recovery process where 92% of the arachnophobic patients moved to the nonarachnophobic cluster.