After screening (including parts of the Mini-DIPS), participants will receive a pre-assessment with a baseline heartrate measurement, self-report measures and two BATs (with the treated spider and the non-treated spider). All participants receive a brief psychoeducation \& video demonstration of exposure steps. Participants are randomly assigned to the three study arms and are then set to receive a single session of either in vivo exposure (IVET), videochat based vicarious exposure (VicET) or neither (Waiting List Control, WLC). Approximately 24 hours later, the two BATs with both spiders, a slightly reduced set of self-report measures and an interview will conduct the post-assessment. The order of all BATs, the spider individuals (treated vs. non-treated spider) and assignment to study arms will be randomized using a list that will be worked through in a sequence determined using "www.random.org". At a six-week follow-up, another long-term assessment will be conducted. Here, participants will receive a brief online questionnaire related to their experiences with spiders and self-report measures that were previously administered. Participants previously assigned to the waiting list control (WLC) will be invited to participate in an in-vivo exposure session. A set of questionnaires including demographic information, VAS scales on the current psychological state and wellbeing (administered at the start and end of the first and second assessment day), the BDI-II, the STAI-T and STAI-S, FEE, SPQ, SBQ, FSQ, GSE, SEQ-SP, TC/E for treatment credibility and the "positive attitudes towards technology subscale" of the MTUA will be used. BDI-II, STAI and MTUA are only administered at pre-assessment. The SAS is used for initial screening.
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Behavioral Approach Test (BAT)
Timeframe: Pre-Assessment (immediately prior to exposure for the IVET & VicET groups, which corresponds to the end of first assessment day for the WLC group as they receive exposure at the end of the study), Post-Assessment (the next day).
Subjective fear
Timeframe: At Pre-Assessment (during BATs, Day 1 & treatments), At Post-Assessment (during BATs, Day 2)
Subjective disgust
Timeframe: Pre-Assessment (during BATs & treatments), Post-Assessment (during BATs)
Heart Rate
Timeframe: Pre-Assessment (during BATs) & Post-Assessment (during BATs). Measured throughout all of Pre-Assessment (including 5-minute resting heartrate measurement), all of Post-Assessment (including 5-minute resting heartrate measurement) & Treatment.