Lietmeijer, Valentijn (2022) Exploration of Changes in Cognitive Processes After a One-Session Treatment for Specific Phobias, a Case-Study. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Background: A single session exposure-based intervention (One-Session Treatment or OST) has been proven to be highly effective in treating childhood specific phobias. It is known that the cognitive processes of mental imagery, interpretation bias and harm expectancy play a role in the maintenance of anxiety. Even though the OST treatment is effective, there are still children who do not respond to the OST treatment. To improve the efficacy of this treatment, we explore the role of mental imagery, interpretation bias and harm expectancy in the maintenance of childhood specific phobias. Objective: In the current single case study, it is investigated whether (1) a child with a specific phobia indeed had distortions in these cognitive processes and whether (2) these cognitive processes changed after an OST session. Method: In this single case study, a girl with a severe dog phobia underwent a successful OST session to overcome her fears. The cognitive processes were assessed before and after the intervention and compared to reference groups. Results: After a successful OST session, the following results were found. First, the cognitive processes of mental imagery, interpretation bias and harm expectancy were all present in the individual when comparing them to reference groups. Second, all cognitive processes changed from pre- to post-intervention. Conclusion: The cognitive processes of mental imagery, interpretation bias and harm expectancy seem to play a role in the maintenance of childhood specific phobias. To further explore the role of these cognitive processes in childhood specific phobias it is suggested to replicate the current study in a larger sample with the use of mediating models. Second, a randomized-controlled trial adding an intervention targeted at mental imagery or interpretation bias to the OST and comparing this to an OST-only group may give insight in the causality of the processes.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Nauta, M.H. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2022 13:38 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2022 13:38 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1190 |
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