Efficacy of temporally intensified exposure for anxiety disorders: A multicenter randomized clinical trial.
Andre PittigIngmar HeinigStephan GoerigkFreya ThielKatrin HummelLucie SchollJürgen DeckertPaul PauliKatharina DomschkeUlrike LuekenThomas FydrichLydia FehmJens PlagAndreas StröhleTilo KircherBenjamin StraubeWinfried RiefKatja KoelkebeckVolker AroltUdo DannlowskiJürgen MargrafChristina TotzeckSilvia SchneiderPeter NeudeckMichelle G CraskeMaike HollandtJan RichterAlfons HammHans-Ulrich WittchenPublished in: Depression and anxiety (2021)
Both treatment variants focusing on the transdiagnostic exposure-based violation of threat beliefs were effective in reducing symptom severity and disability in severe anxiety disorders. Temporally intensified exposure resulted in faster treatment response with substantial public health benefits and lower drop-out during the exposure phase, without higher relapse. Clinicians can expect better or at least comparable outcomes when delivering exposure in a temporally intensified manner.