Alpers, Georg W.

Fraunfelter, Laura-Ashley

Gerdes, Antje B. M.

Müller, Ulrich W. D.

German

MAnnheim DOCument Server

Erwachsene  Fear and anxiety: From the lab to clinical 
implications 
150 
 
Unterbeitrag 4: 
Individual Differences in Human Fear Generalization and Implications for Anxiety Disorders 
Yannik Stegmann¹, Miriam A. Schiele², Tina B. Lonsdorf³, Peter Zwanzger⁴, Marcel Romanos⁵, 
Andreas Reif⁶, Katharina Domschke², Jürgen Deckert⁵, Matthias J. Wieser⁷, Matthias Gamer¹, Paul 
Pauli¹ (¹ Universität Würzburg, ² University of Freiburg, ³ University Medical Center Hamburg, ⁴ kbo-Inn-
Salzach-Hospital, ⁵ University Hospital Würzburg, ⁶ University Hospital Frankfurt, ⁷ Erasmus University 
Rotterdam) 
Generalization of conditioned fear is discussed as a crucial mechanism contributing to the 
development of anxiety disorders. Previous research indicates that anxiety disorders are characterized 
by an overgeneralization of conditioned fear as compared to healthy participants. However, systematic 
investigations on the variance in fear generalization are lacking. Therefore, we investigated a large 
sample of healthy individuals (N = 1175) with the aim to identify distinctive phenotypes of fear 
generalization. To this end, all participants completed a differential fear conditioning phase followed 
by a generalization test. By means of cluster analyses based on individual arousal generalization 
gradients, we identified five reliable and valid subgroups that systematically differed in (1) mean fear 
response levels, (2) differentiation between conditioned fear and safety, and (3) linearity of the 
generalization gradients, though mean response levels accounted for the most variance. Remarkably, 
the patterns of mean and differential responses were already evident during fear acquisition. The 
subgroups also showed systematic differences among psychometric measures of anxiety traits, with 
the cluster showing the strongest mean fear response levels and fear generalization also 
demonstrating the highest levels of anxiety traits. Following a dimensional view of psychopathology, 
these clusters likely delineate risk factors for anxiety disorders (high mean fear responses levels, low 
CS-differentiation, strong fear generalization and high levels of anxiety traits). As crucial group 
characteristics were already evident during fear acquisition, our results emphasize the importance of 
average fear responses and differentiation between conditioned fear and safety as risk factors for 
anxiety disorders. 
 
Unterbeitrag 5: 
Specific phobia not so specific after all: Evidence for fear generalization in spider and dog phobia 
Laura-Ashley Fraunfelter, Antje B. M. Gerdes, Ulrich W. D. Müller, Prof. Dr. Georg W. Alpers 
(Universität Mannheim) 
Fear generalization is thought to be an important mechanism involved in the acquisition and 
maintenance of specific phobia. Specifically, phobic fears are rarely confined to a clear-cut stimulus or 
situation, but are observed to spread to similar stimuli and situations. Despite its evident diagnostic 
and therapeutic relevance, the degree and clinical consequences of fear generalization have not been 
systematically investigated.  
To address this gap, we assessed generalized fear and avoidance in spider- (n=58) and dog-fearful 
(n=22) individuals online. Participants rated 30 spider (e.g., a tarantula) or dog pictures of which 15 
depicted a variety of species of the feared animal. The other 15 pictures showed either physically 
similar, but different animals (e.g., a centipede), associated locations (e.g., basement) or semantically 
related stimuli of the same category (spider web). To asses (generalized) avoidance, participants could 
chose to either view each picture again and win virtual money, or to avoid viewing the stimuli and not 
receive money. In addition, we assessed phobia symptoms, DSM criteria, and every-day impairment.  
Erwachsene  Fear and anxiety: From the lab to clinical 
implications 
151 
 
Indeed, fear ratings were found to generalize to different animals, associated locations, and 
semantically related stimuli. Importantly, this fear generalization was highly correlated with phobia 
symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Impairment in every-day functioning was moderately associated 
with fear generalization especially in dog-fearful individuals. Although we generally observed low 
generalized avoidance behavior, avoidance of spider-related animals was linked with diagnostic 
indicators of spider phobia and impairment in every-day life. 
This is the first study to systematically document generalized fear and avoidance in spider- and dog-
fearful individuals, as well as clinically relevant associations. We argue for the relevance of fear 
generalization for symptom severity, as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Specific phobia not so specific after all: Evidence for fear generalization in spider and dog phobia

Mannheim Electronic DOCument Server der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim

https://madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/55975/1/Eingereichte%20Abstracts%20f%C3%BCr%20das%20verschobene%2038.%20Fachgruppensymposium%20-%20Band%20I%20Symposien.pdf

Specific phobia not so specific after all: Evidence for fear generalization in spider and dog phobia

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

MAnnheim DOCument Server

Mannheim Electronic DOCument Server der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim

MAnnheim DOCument Server