Optimizing exposure: Between-session mental rehearsal as an augmentation strategy

Exposure therapy is widely empirically supported as a treatment for anxiety disorders, but clinically significant response rates hover around 50%. This study explores strategies consolidating the exposure memory way of improving efficacy. Between-session mental rehearsal learning was examined enhancing effects therapy. Sixty-two spider-fearful individuals completed baseline questionnaires and behavioral approach test with live tarantula, followed by two sessions in vivo exposures, post-assessment one-week later that repeated test. Skin conductance, subjective distress, number steps were recorded at each Participants randomized to or control (non-specific) prompted on three occasions after session. both conditions improved from post-assessment, participants showed significantly greater improvement than across questionnaire measurements spider fear, during Findings suggest between-session an effective supplement As such, may be promising avenue toward increasing many psychiatric disorders benefit