Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Does threatening imagery sensitize distress during contaminant exposure?
Received 11 August 2004;
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Abstract
Prominent models of fear focus on the role of cognition in the development and maintenance of maladaptive responses. Little research, however, has evaluated the impact of cognition on distress reduction. The current study uses an experimental design to examine the effect of different types of imagery (moving harm, static harm, and safety) on reduction of distress associated with a contaminating stimulus in a normal university sample. Results indicate that use of moving harm imagery sensitizes distress during a 30-min exposure, whereas static harm and safety imagery reduce distress. These findings demonstrate that cognitive factors can moderate affective response during exposure. Clinical implications for the treatment of anxiety disorders are discussed.
Keywords: Fear reduction; Disgust; Cognition; OCD; Looming vulnerability
Article Outline
- Introduction
- Method
- Results
- Criteria for inclusion in data analysis
- Sample characteristics
- Exposure refusers
- Manipulation check
- Baseline distress and stimulus introduction
- Imagery introduction and distress reduction
- Participants with clinically elevated contamination scores
- Lingering distress (after washing)
- Threat appraisals
- Discussion
- Acknowledgements
- References






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