D-cycloserine as adjunct to brief computerised CBT for spider fear: Effects on fear, behaviour, and cognitive biases

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Nils Kappelmann - , University of Oxford (Autor:in)
  • Mareike Suesse - , University of Oxford (Autor:in)
  • Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik (Autor:in)
  • Reinoud Kaldewaij - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Autor:in)
  • Michael Browning - , University of Oxford (Autor:in)
  • Tanja Michael - , Universität des Saarlandes (Autor:in)
  • Mike Rinck - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Autor:in)
  • Andrea Reinecke - , University of Oxford (Autor:in)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves information-processing biases such as implicit fear evaluations and avoidance tendencies, which predicts treatment response. Thus, these cognitive biases might constitute important treatment targets. This study investigated (i) whether information-processing biases could be changed following single-session computerised CBT for spider fear, and (ii) whether this effect could be augmented by administration of D-cycloserine (DCS).

METHODS: Spider-fearful individuals were randomized to receiving either 250 mg of DCS (n = 21) or placebo (n = 17). Three hours after drug administration, they received single-session computerized CBT, characterized by psychoeducation and exposure elements. Spider fear was assessed using self-report, behavioural, and information processing (Extrinsic Affective Simon Task & Approach Avoidance Task) measures at baseline (before drug administration), post-treatment, 1-day, and 1-month follow-up.

RESULTS: Linear mixed-effects analyses indicated significant improvements on self-report and behavioural spider fear indices following CBT, but not on cognitive bias measures. There was no evidence of an augmentation effect of DCS on any outcome. Cognitive bias measures at 1-day were not predictive of 1-month follow-up spider fear in adjusted linear regression analyses.

LIMITATIONS: Results might be biased by limited representativeness of the sample (high education and intelligence, largely Caucasian ethnicity, young age). The study was also only powered for detection of medium-sized DCS effects.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings do not provide evidence for information-processing biases relating to treatment outcome following computerised CBT for spider fear or augmentation with DCS.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)101546
FachzeitschriftJournal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
Jahrgang68
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Sept. 2020
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85077737733
ORCID /0000-0002-1171-7133/work/142255043

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Adult, Animals, Cognition/drug effects, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Cycloserine/pharmacology, Fear/drug effects, Female, Humans, Male, Phobic Disorders/drug therapy, Spiders