Citation

Kemp JJ, Blakey SM, Wolitzky-Taylor KB, Sy JT, Deacon BJ. Cogn. Behav. Ther. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-12.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/16506073.2019.1574312

PMID

30760108

Abstract

This study re-analyzes data from Sy and colleagues (2011; Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49, 305-314) comparing safety behavior availability (SBA) to safety behavior utilization (SBU) during exposure therapy for claustrophobic concerns. The present investigation assessed differential rates of inhibitory learning (i.e. change in danger expectancy and coping self-efficacy) between SBA and SBU before, during, and after a single-session treatment. Thirty-nine participants with marked claustrophobic fear completed six consecutive 5-minute exposure trials in a claustrophobia chamber. Participants in the SBA condition exhibited more interference with inhibitory learning relative to the SBU condition. Danger expectancy was significantly higher in the SBA group and decreased at a markedly slower rate across exposure trials relative to SBU. Coping self-efficacy was also significantly lower among participants in the SBA condition, although groups demonstrated similar rates of change across trials. Limitations, clinical implications, and future directions are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

Exposure therapy; inhibitory learning theory; safety behaviors