Spider phobic subjects (n = 45) completed 3 × 40 minute computer-delivered treatment sessions. Questionnaire ratings of phobic severity were completed pre-and posttreatment (n = 45) and at 6-12-month follow-up (n = 38). The program used interactive animations to model self-exposure treatment methods. Subjects were randomized to one of three treatment groups (n = 15), each receiving a different version of the program. These treatment conditions were relevant exposure with feedback (REF), relevant exposure with no feedback (RENoF), or irrelevant exposure with feedback (IEF). Relevant exposure modeled exposure to spiders, irrelevant exposure to elevators. All groups showed significant phobic improvement following the treatment, as measured on a variety of instruments. Learning on the programs was demonstrated by a significantly increased performance (time taken to reach a target score) within each group across the three computer treatment sessions. Outcome was not significantly affected by either relevance of exposure or the manipulation of the onscreen feedback. Subjects' report of exposure treatment undertaken at home correlated positively with phobic improvement. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Health services and systems
Research Field:	Mental health services
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other health
Objective Field:	Other health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Smith, KL ( Smith)
UTAS Author:	Kirkby, KC (Professor Kenneth Kirkby)
UTAS Author:	Montgomery, IM (Dr Iain Montgomery)
UTAS Author:	Daniels, BA (Dr Brett Daniels)
ID Code:	10947
Year Published:	1997
Web of Science® Times Cited:	31
Deposited By:	Clinical Sciences
Deposited On:	1997-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-11
Downloads:	0