This study tests whether exposure therapy for fear of snakes or spiders is enhanced by the addition of a brief fear retrieval trial prior to treatment, and the use of compound extinction during treatment. The goal of the study is to determine whether these behavioral techniques enhance the efficacy of exposure therapy, one of the most empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders.
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Change in peak subjective fear (0 - 100), behavioral approach (0 - 4), and heart rate reactivity to a live snake/spider not used during treatment (generalization context) from pre-treatment to follow-up
Timeframe: pre-treatment (window of 1-14 days prior to treatment); follow-up (window of 6-14 days after treatment)