Interoceptive exposure

Abstract

Interoceptive exposure is an intervention developed in the context of panic disorder targeting the fear of physical symptoms. Originally, the rationale for interoceptive exposure was exclusively based on interoceptive conditioning of bodily fear symptoms. Further developments over the past 30 years substantially widened the uses as well as the rationale behind interoceptive exposure. In consequence, this intervention is used in various disorders in addition to panic disorder, although the use in the treatment of panic is still its most common application. In this chapter, first the origins of interoceptive exposure will be detailed. Secondly the use of interoceptive exposure within a cognitive therapy framework (behavioral experiments) will be explicated. Also, the use of interoceptive exposure as a tool to increase tolerance for aversive bodily symptoms will be highlighted. Based on case reports and the limited empirical literature, the most common as well as some uncommon forms of interoceptive exposure and its uses will be illustrated. In addition, a brief overview of the efficacy literature concerning interoceptive exposure will be given.