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Self-Distancing for Specific Phobia in Youth
Sponsor: Columbia University
Summary
Self-Distancing is a cognitive technique that involves a shift in self-talk characterized by replacing first-person (e.g., "I") with second- or third-person pronouns (i.e., "you", one's own name) to promote an adaptive, self-reflective stance in emotionally charged situations. This trial aims to help learn how self-distancing may increase behavioral approach during exposures. To find out if self-distancing works by helping children approach fear-inducing stimuli, the study will look at behaviors and physiological responses related to approach, as well as symptom severity, before and after this cognitive technique. The study hypothesizes that Self-Distancing will lead to greater increases in approach behaviors and a larger decrease in symptom severity compared to a control condition (first-person self-talk).
Official title: Targeting Approach Behaviors in Exposures With Self-distancing to Improve Outcomes in Youth Specific Phobia
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
7 Years - 12 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
0
Start Date
2026-10
Completion Date
2028-10
Last Updated
2026-05-07
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Self-Distancing Intervention
In the Self Distancing Intervention condition, participants will be instructed to describe the exposure task from a self-distanced perspective (e.g., "Emily is going to touch the spider").
First-person self-talk
Youth will be randomized to a BAT with a control condition. In this arm, participants will be instructed to describe the exposure task from a self-immersed perspective (e.g., "I'm going to touch the spider")