Generalization of exposure therapy effects

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Armin Zlomuzica
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434371728

There is a striking contrast between the immense clinical and scientific relevance of fear generalization in anxiety disorders (AD) and the stunningly small amount of research devoted to these phenomena in the therapy context. With increasing knowledge on processes related to generalization of acquired and extinguished fear there is a great potential to better understand and improve current treatment options for AD. Exposure is considered the most effective intervention to reduce fear and avoidance for specific fear stimuli. Effects are usually observed in the presence of fear stimuli that were used during the respective treatment (treated stimuli). The extent to which such exposure-induced effects generalize to fear and avoidance behavior towards untreated stimuli is unclear. The present project will examine generalization of exposure-induced benefit for untreated fear stimuli in individuals with fear of animals and heights. In a series of studies, we will explore possible transfer of exposure-induced benefit for untreated stimuli along gradients of perceptual and non-perceptual similarity. Generalization of exposure-induced benefit will be characterized by using a combination of subjective, behavioral and psychophysiological measures. Our studies will provide insight into whether and how processes of generalization can be observed in the therapy setting.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants