Respiratory Training vs Interoceptive Exposure in the Treatment of Transdiagnostic Pathological Anxiety

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · Jun 16, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two different treatments for people experiencing various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety. The goal is to compare the effectiveness of two approaches: one involves gradually exposing participants to physical sensations related to anxiety (called Interoceptive Exposure), while the other focuses on using breathing techniques to help manage anxiety symptoms (Capnometry-Guided Respiratory Intervention). There’s also a third group that will receive educational information about anxiety to see how it compares to the other two methods.

To participate in this study, individuals need to be at least 18 years old and have significant anxiety symptoms. They should not be currently taking anxiety medications or receiving other psychological treatments. Participants will need to be comfortable attending appointments at the research location and must not have any medical conditions that could interfere with the study. This trial aims to help find effective treatments for anxiety, and participants can expect to contribute to important research that could benefit many others dealing with similar challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Clinically elevated anxiety as indicated by an eight or higher on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS).
• 2. Meets DSM-5 criteria for one or more of the following anxiety or trauma-related disorders as their "primary" mental disorder:
• • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• • Panic Disorder
• • Health Anxiety
• • Agoraphobia
• • Social Anxiety Disorder
• • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• • Acute Stress Disorder
• • Adjustment Disorder with primary anxious mood
• • Anxiety disorder not otherwise specified
• • 3. No current use of psychotropic medications or stable on current medications for at least 6 weeks
• • 4. Age 18+.
• • 5. Able to arrange transportation to our laboratory for study appointments.
• • 6. Fluent in English.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• 1. No history of medical conditions that would contraindicate participation in fear-provocation or respiratory challenges, including:
• • Cardiovascular or respiratory disorders
• • High blood pressure
• • Epilepsy
• • Strokes
• • Seizures
• • History of fainting
• • Pregnant or lactating
• • 2. Not currently receiving other psychological treatment for anxiety.
• • 3. No history of a suicide attempt within the past 6 months.
• • 4. No history of psychosis within the past 6 months.
• • 5. No history of moderate to severe alcohol or substance use disorder (with the exception of nicotine) within the past 3 months.
• • 6. Does not endorse COVID-19 symptoms during the screening phase.