Comparative effectiveness of guided mastery and exposure treatments for intractable phobias

Abstract

Compared the exposure model and the self-efficacy model by randomly assigning 32 18-76 yr old individuals with driving or height phobias to 1 of the treatment conditions or to a control condition. Results show that treatments were equivalent in duration of exposure and in degree of inducement to confront threats rapidly, but the self-efficacy (mastery) model was significantly more effective than exposure in restoring Ss' behavioral functioning and diminishing their anticipated anxiety and performance-related anxiety. Both treatments were more effective than the control condition. It is suggested that self-efficacy predicted therapeutic behavior change significantly better than did anxiety, exposure duration, or performance level achieved during treatment. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1984 American Psychological Association.