Spider scared? imagining worst case may help you face your fears
NCT ID NCT05424250
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding occasional aversive imagery (imagining your worst fear about spiders) during exposure therapy helps reduce spider phobia more than standard exposure alone. 67 spider-fearful adults completed a one-session training with seven steps, from looking at a spider to touching it. One week later, researchers measured fear levels and avoidance behavior to see which group improved more.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- exposure therapy with occasional aversive imagery
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective way to treat phobias using exposure therapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 67 participants. The results may not apply to everyone with spider fear, and the benefit of adding aversive imagery is uncertain.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Philipps-University Marburg
Marburg, Hesse, 35037, Germany
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.