Effectiveness of a projection-based augmented reality exposure system in treating cockroach phobia: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Background: Despite being the treatment of choice for phobic disorders, in vivo exposure treatment (IVET) presents some important limitations related mainly to low acceptance and high drop-out rates. Augmented reality (AR) technologies can help to overcome these limitations. Evidence supports the use of AR in exposure treatment for small animal phobia. A new projection-based AR exposure treatment system (P-ARET) that offers the possibility of projecting the animals in a natural and non-intrusive environment has been developed. There are no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) available that have tested the efficacy of this system in cockroach phobia. This paper aims to present the protocol of an RCT that evaluates the efficacy of the P-ARET, versus an IVET group and a waiting list control group (WL), in carrying out exposure treatment for cockroach phobia. Methods/design: Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (1) P-ARET, (2) IVET and (3) WL. Both treatment conditions will follow the ‘one-session treatment’ guidelines. As a diagnostic measure, the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health Disorders-Version 5 will be used. The Behavioral Avoidance Test will be used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures will include an attentional biases task (measured using eye-tracking technology), the Fear of Cockroaches Questionnaire, Cockroach Phobia Beliefs Questionnaire, Fear and Avoidance Scales, Beck Depression Inventory second edition, Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised-12, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Clinician Severity Scale, and Expectation and Satisfaction with the Treatment Scale. The evaluation protocol will include pretreatment and post-treatment evaluations and 1, 6 and 12 months of follow-ups. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain; 13 December 2019). The results of the presented RCT will be disseminated in presentations at international scientific meetings and peer-reviewed scientific journals.Funding for the study was provided by Grant Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain) (Programa Estatal I+D+I) (grant number: RTI2018-100993-B-100) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by 'ERDF A way of making Europe', by the European Union.Funding for the study was provided by Grant Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain) (Programa Estatal I+D+i RTI2018-100993-B-100) funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by 'ERDF A way of making Europe', by the 'European Union'

Improving the efficacy of exposure therapy using projection-based augmented reality for the treatment of cockroach phobia: a randomised clinical trial protocol

Introduction: In vivo exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobia (SP), but this technique presents limitations related to access and acceptability. Augmented reality (AR) offers advantages like maximising strategies such as ‘variability’ (varying stimuli, durations, levels of intensity or the order of the items), control by the therapist, or ‘exposure to multiple contexts’, which can produce positive effects in terms of fear renewal and generalisation of the results. The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of varying the phobic stimuli during treatment with AR: using multiple stimuli (MS) versus a single stimulus (SS) in participants with SP. Methods and analysis: Participants (N=80) with a diagnosis of an SP of cockroaches will be randomised into two conditions: (1) projection-based AR exposure therapy with MS (P-ARET MS); (2) P-ARET with an SS (P-ARET SS). The measures are related to the efficacy results (fear, avoidance and negative thoughts, performance on the behavioural avoidance test (BAT) and preferences). The primary outcome measure is the BAT, and the secondary outcome measures are the BAT through AR, Fear of Cockroaches Questionnaire, Cockroach Phobia Beliefs Questionnaire, Fear and Avoidance Scales Patient’s Improvement Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition. Five evaluation moments will be included: preintervention, postintervention, and 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups. The treatment will follow the guidelines of the ‘one-session treatment’. Student’s t-tests to compare the two groups on the post-test will be applied. In addition, two-way analysis of variances with repeated measures in one of the two factors (pretest, post-test and follow-ups) will be carried out to compare intragroup differences. Ethics and dissemination: The Universitat Jaume I Ethics Committee (Castellón, Spain) granted approval for the study (CD/64/2019). Dissemination will include publications and presentations at national and international conferences

Internet- and mobile-based interventions for the treatment of specific phobia: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis

Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) are being developed for a wide range of psychological disorders and they showed their effectiveness in multiple studies. Specific phobia (SP) is one of the most common anxiety disorders, and research about IMIs for their treatment has also been conducted in recent years. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis exploring IMIs for the treatment of SP. A comprehensive search conducted in five different databases identified 9 studies (4 pre-post studies, 5 randomized controlled trials) with 7 Internet-based interventions and 2 mobile-based interventions. Results showed that exposure was the main component of all interventions, and that animal phobia was the most common subtype. Samples included children, adolescents, and adults. A preliminary meta-analysis of the included studies showed that participants receiving IMIs experienced a significant reduction of SP symptoms from pre- to post-treatment (g = 1.15). This systematic review found that there is already some evidence in the literature supporting the potential benefits of IMIs for SP. However, the number of studies included is small and more research should be carried out in the field

Cockroaches are scarier than snakes: Validation of an effective standarized animals images set

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Psicologia General Sanitària. Codi: SBF018. Curs: 2018/2019.Background: Traditionally, the study of behavior and emotions has been closely related to the use of emotional images that evoke a wide range of affective responses, which has promoted the development of different standardized sets of images. However, some types of images that could be relevant for psychopathology and behavioral-cognitive treatments research are not available, especially for small animal phobias. The aim of the present study is to validate a set of animal images that includes images of cockroaches, which are not present in the current literature. Method: 80 images depicting four type of animals (cockroaches, snakes, cats and butterflies; 20 for each type) were collected from online public domains. Every picture was rated on two affective dimensions, valence and arousal, by 221 people (66.5% women). Results: Main results showed that cockroaches’ pictures were rated as significantly more negative than snakes, butterflies and cats’ pictures. Differences in sex revealed that women rated as more negative and exciting the cockroaches’ pictures than men. Discussion: The results highlighted the importance of including cockroach images in the image sets in future studies due to their negative valence. In fact, cockroaches were rated as more negative than the most typical unpleasant animal used in phobic research, snakes. In addition, results showed that women reported more affective responses (for both positive and negative images) and showed significant greater activation only for cockroach images. Finally, this set of images can be useful in research of small animal phobias.Introducción: Tradicionalmente, el estudio de la conducta y las emociones ha estado muy relacionado con el uso de imágenes que provocan diferentes respuestas afectivas, promoviendo el desarrollo de conjuntos de imágenes estandarizados. Sin embargo, ciertas imágenes que pueden ser relevantes en la investigación y tratamientos psicológicos, especialmente en la fobia a los animales pequeños, no están presentes en estos conjuntos. El objetivo del presente estudio es validar un conjunto de imágenes de animales que incluye imágenes de cucarachas, las cuales no se encuentran en la literatura actual. Método: Se recogieron 80 imágenes de cuatro tipos de animales (cucarachas, serpientes, gatos y mariposas) a partir de diferentes páginas web públicas. Una muestra de 221 personas (66.5% mujeres) valoró las imágenes en cuanto a su valencia afectiva y arousal. Resultados: Las imágenes de cucarachas resultaron significativamente más negativas que las serpientes, gatos y mariposas. En cuanto al género, las mujeres valoraron más negativamente y con mayor nivel de activación las imágenes de cucarachas. Discusión: Destacamos la importancia de incluir imágenes de cucarachas en los conjuntos de imágenes debido a su elevada valencia negativa. De hecho, las cucarachas recibieron una valoración más negativa que el animal más típicamente desagradable utilizado en la investigación fóbica, las serpientes. Además, las mujeres realizaron respuestas más afectivas (tanto positivas como negativas) y mostraron una mayor activación solo ante las imágenes de cucarachas. Por esto, este conjunto de imágenes puede ser útil en la investigación de la fobia a animales pequeños

A blended intervention for adjustment disorder: Study protocol for a feasibility trial

Adjustment disorder (AjD) is a maladaptive response to one or more psychosocial stressors. In many cases, the symptomatology of this disorder disappears once the stressor or its consequences are no longer present. However, in some cases, if left untreated, the symptoms may worsen and develop into a more severe mental disorder. In this regard, different authors propose that a low-intensity intervention may be suitable for this disorder. Previous studies with other mental disorders and with patients with AjD found that blended interventions can be a viable and effective option. The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility (the participants' expectations and preferences, the satisfaction and acceptance, the appropriateness of different methods of recruitment and data collection, and the reasons for dropping out) of a blended cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBT) for AjD that combines the use of a self-applied Internet-based program with videoconference sessions with a therapist. As a secondary objective, the potential efficacy of this intervention will be tested

Cockroaches are scarier than snakes and spiders: Validation of an affective standardized set of animal images (ASSAI)

This is a pre-print of an article published in Behavior Research Methods. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-021-01577-7Research on emotional processes has been closely related to the use of emotional stimuli, promoting the development of different standardized sets of images. However, some kinds of images that would be relevant in clinical psychology research are not available, especially for small animal phobias. The aim of the present study is to validate a set of animal images that includes images of cockroaches, which are not present in the current sets of images. Two hundred and forty images depicting five types of animals (cockroaches, spiders, snakes, cats, and butterflies) were collected from online public domains. Four hundred and twenty-four participants (72.9% women) took part in the study rating the images in two affective dimensions (i.e., valence and arousal). Cockroach pictures were rated as significantly more unpleasant than pictures of spiders, snakes, butterflies, and cats. Moreover, results revealed that women rated cockroach, spider, and snake pictures as more negative than men did. Also, women in comparison with men rated cockroach images as more arousing. The results highlight the importance of using images of cockroaches, due to their high negative valence, which even exceeds that of snakes and spiders, the unpleasant animals typically used in phobic research. This set of images can be useful in research on small-animal phobias

Effect of an internet-based intervention for adjustment disorder on meaning in life and enjoyment

Introduction: Positive psychological variables, such as meaning in life and the capacity for enjoyment, are important resilience factors against negative behaviors and symptoms. These constructs are related to better emotional regulation strategies, a greater perception of control over one’s life, and better mental health in general. Adjustment disorder (AjD) is a prevalent condition defined as the failure to adapt to a stressful event. Objective: This study presents secondary analysis data on the effect of an Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention (iCBT) for AjD on meaning in life and capacity for enjoyment, compared to a control group. Method: The sample consisted of 68 participants with AjD. 34 in the iCBT condition and 34 in the control group). Meaning in life was assessed by the Purpose-in-Life Test-10, and the Environmental Rewards Observation Scale was used to assess the capacity for enjoyment. The iCBT intervention focused on acceptance and processing of the stressful event. Intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses without any ad hoc imputations and using Cohen’s d effect comparisons were conducted. Results: The results revealed a significant main effect of time and a significant group x time interaction in all the measures. Significantly higher pre-post score differences were found in the treatment condition. Discussion: Meaning in life and capacity for enjoyment can change after an iCBT intervention for AjD. Therapeutic implications of the results and future lines of research about the role of meaning in life in AjD are discussed.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume IOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain; Plan Nacional I + D + I. PSI2013-41783-R)

Memorias de la semana de la Facultad de Educación / VI Semana: Investigaciones educativas y pedagógicas.

El presente libro, publicado en la Editorial de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios – UNIMINUTO, reúne las memorias de la VI Semana de la Facultad de Educación – FEDU “Investigaciones Educativas y Pedagógicas”, evento que se realiza cada año con el fin de intercambiar experiencias académicas, culturales y deportivas entre los estudiantes y profesores de la Facultad, con la participación de otras Universidades interesadas en compartir sus experiencias en el campo de la investigación, la cultura y el deporte. La temática para la VI Semana de la FEDU en 2016 estuvo relacionada con la investigación en torno a la educación y la pedagogía, de tal forma que los profesores y los estudiantes tuvieron la oportunidad de intercambiar experiencias desarrolladas en los proyectos y en los semilleros de investigación; además, los estudiantes y los egresados tuvieron la oportunidad de presentar los resultados de sus trabajos de grado y otros estudios productos de investigación