Exposure Therapy D-Cycloserine, and fMRI in Snake Phobics: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Specific phobia is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the U.S., with a lifetime prevalence of 12.5% (Kessler, et al., 2005). With a high prevalence rate, it is important to provide effective treatments. While evidence suggests exposure-based therapy (i.e. exposure and response prevention (ERP)) is effective in treating anxiety disorders, many patients fail to respond to treatment (Clark, et al., 1994; Margraf, Barlow, Clark, & Telch, 1993) and many seek additional treatment within two years after completion of therapy (Brown & Barlow, 1995). Research has shown that combining exposure-based therapy and pharmacotherapy (i.e. antidepressants, benzodiazepines) is not more effective than therapy alone (Barlow, Gorman, Shear, & Woods, 2000; Davidson, et al., 2004; Foa, et al., 2005; Marks, et al., 1993). Recent clinical trials indicate that the partial N-methyl-D- aspartic acid (NMDA) agonist D-cycloserine (DCS) may enhance fear extinction in both animals and humans (Norberg, Krystal, & Tolin, 2008). DCS augmented exposure-based therapy is thought to target and augment the proposed neural mechanisms of psychotherapy, which should improve the effectiveness of treatment.
Subject Area
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Nave, Andrea M, "Exposure Therapy D-Cycloserine, and fMRI in Snake Phobics: A Pilot Study" (2013). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI13853139.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI13853139
