Effect of distraction and coping style on in vivo exposure for specific phobia of spiders

Recent studies have generated mixed findings regarding the effects of distr action on exposure-based treatments. Results have also been inconsistent re garding the effects of monitoring and blunting coping styles on outcome. Th e present study attempted to integrate these two areas of research. We hypo thesized that the effect of distraction on treatment outcome might depend o n coping style. Specifically, we predicted that for blunters (i.e., individ uals who tend to avoid threat-related information), distraction would inter fere with the effects of exposure. However, we predicted that distraction m ight benefit monitors (i.e., individuals who tend to seek out threat-relate d information). Sixty individuals with a specific phobia of spiders underwe nt a single, two-hour session of exposure treatment. During the first hour, half of the participants were distracted by listening to an audiotape and the other half underwent exposure without distraction. In the second hour, all participants underwent focused exposure. Based on measures of heart rat e, subjective fear, and behavioral testing, participants improved after one hour of treatment, and improved further during the second hour. However, n either distraction, coping style, nor their interaction had a significant e ffect on outcome. The present study provides support for the benefits of be havioral treatment for specific phobias. However, our hypotheses regarding distraction and coping style were not confirmed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.