Changes in Brain Activity (Functional MRI Study) Before and After Behavioral Therapy of Height Phobia

• Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute (Other)
• Overall Status: Completed
• CT.gov ID: NCT00302978
• Collaborator: (none)
• Enrollment: 40
• Duration (Months): 3

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

We are interested in investigating the functional brain abnormalities of height phobia. Subjects will be have a functional MRI scan before and after a course of treatment with behavioral therapy.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Height Phobia; Fear of Heights	Behavioral: Behavior therapy	N/A

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of in vivo exposure therapy on the functional brain activity of subjects with height phobia using a fear provocation paradigm. We expect differential activation of the fear circuitry in height phobics compared to non-phobic controls, and that successful behavioral therapy will normalize the heightened fear response in height phobia.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: The Effects of in Vivo Exposure Therapy on the Neural Correlates of Height Phobia: a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study Using a Fear Provocation Paradigm.
• Study Start Date: Mar 1, 2006
• Actual Study Completion Date: Jun 1, 2006

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

1. CGI []

Secondary Outcome Measures

1. acrophobia questionnaire []

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Specific phobia of Heights

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of medical problems

Contacts and Locations

Locations

No locations specified.

Sponsors and Collaborators

• New York State Psychiatric Institute

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Yujuan Choy, M.D., New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.

• Responsible Party: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00302978
• Other Study ID Numbers: 5215
• First Posted: Mar 15, 2006
• Last Update Posted: Dec 15, 2011
• Last Verified: Apr 1, 2007

• Keywords provided by New York State Psychiatric Institute: Height phobia; fear of heights; specific phobia
• Additional relevant MeSH terms: Phobic Disorders

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Dec 15, 2011