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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
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Multimedia intervention for specific phobias: A clinical and experimental study

Antonio Ruiz-García and Luis Valero-Aguayo

Universidad de Málaga

Background: Exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobias. We present an experimental and clinical study on the efficacy of the progressive multimedia exposure procedure for specific phobias. Method: The sample size consisted of 36 individuals, 7 men and 29 women (mean age: 29 years old), with different types of specific phobias. A combined between-groups (3x4) with repeated measures design was used, including several follow-ups up to 3 years. Participants were assigned to different groups: Experimental (10), Waiting List (12), and Control (14). As an evaluation method, a Behavioural Avoidance Test (BAT) with subjective anxiety and heart rate was used for images and videos, plus general and specific anxiety questionnaires for each phobia. The intervention was carried out in four phases of multimedia exposure: photographs, videos, simulated stimuli, and real stimulation. Results: Anxiety and avoidance were significantly reduced in the experimental group, with a very large effect size (between d = 1.37 and 5.37). There were no significant changes in either the Control Group or the Waiting List Group. Conclusions: The treatment had a clinically significant impact on the daily life of the participants. This multimedia procedure was shown to be effective and to use few resources, thus allowing it to always be adapted to the individual characteristics of the participants.

Intervención multimedia para fobias específicas: un estudio clínico y experimental. Antecedentes: la exposición es el tratamiento de elección para las fobias específicas. Se presenta un estudio experimental y clínico sobre la eficacia del procedimiento de exposición progresiva multimedia en fobias específicas. Método: participaron 36 personas, 7 hombres y 29 mujeres (media 29 años), con distintos tipos de fobias específicas. Se utilizó un diseño entre-grupos con medidas repetidas (3×4), incluyendo varios seguimientos hasta 3 años. Los participantes se asignaron a diferentes grupos: Experimental (10), Lista de Espera (12) y Control (14). Como evaluación se utilizó un Test de Evitación Conductual (BAT) con ansiedad subjetiva y tasa cardíaca ante imágenes y vídeos, cuestionarios generales de ansiedad y específicos de cada fobia. La intervención se realizó en cuatro fases de exposición multimedia: fotografías, vídeos, estímulos simulados y estimulación real. Resultados: la ansiedad y la evitación se redujeron de forma significativa en el grupo experimental, con un tamaño del efecto muy elevado (entre d = 1.37 y 5.37). No hubo cambios significativos en el Grupo Control, ni en el Grupo Lista de Espera. Conclusión: el tratamiento tuvo una repercusión clínicamente significativa en la vida diaria de los participantes. Este procedimiento multimedia ha mostrado su eficacia, con pocos recursos, permitiendo adaptarse siempre a las características individuales de los participantes.

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Impact factor 2022:  JCR WOS 2022:  FI = 3.6 (Q2);  JCI = 1.21 (Q1) / SCOPUS 2022:  SJR = 1.097;  CiteScore = 6.4 (Q1)