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The effects of distraction on desensitization and reprocessing
1Department of Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Milperra, NSW, Australia. john.haw@uws.edu.au
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|July 31, 1998
Summary
Distraction during therapy for spider anxiety initially reduced fear but led to greater anxiety increases later. Focused exposure without distraction proved more effective long-term for managing phobias.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Phobias represent a significant clinical challenge, impacting quality of life.
- Understanding memory's role in processing aversive information is crucial for effective treatments.
- Distraction's impact on anxiety desensitization requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of distraction techniques in reducing spider anxiety.
- To examine the role of short-term memory components in processing fearful stimuli.
- To compare outcomes of distraction-based versus focused exposure therapy.
Main Methods:
- Analogue study with 72 students exhibiting mild spider anxiety.
- Pre-test/post-test experimental design comparing four groups.
- Three groups utilized distraction tasks targeting short-term memory; one control group had focused exposure.
Main Results:
- All groups showed initial, similar reductions in self-reported and physiological anxiety.
- Follow-up revealed significantly greater anxiety increases in distraction groups compared to the control.
- No significant differences in outcomes were found among the distraction conditions.
Conclusions:
- Distraction may hinder long-term desensitization and reprocessing of phobic stimuli.
- Focused exposure appears more effective for sustained anxiety reduction in spider phobia.
- Therapeutic strategies should carefully consider the role of cognitive load and attention.