Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a technique in behavior therapy to treat anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient to the anxiety source or its context (without the intention to cause any danger). Doing so is thought to help them overcome their anxiety or distress.^[1]^{: 141–142}^[2] Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in the treatment of disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,^[3] post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and specific phobias.^[4]

As of 2024, focus is particularly on exposure and response prevention (ERP or ExRP) therapy, in which exposure is continued and the resolution to refrain from the escape response is maintained at all times (not just during specific therapy sessions).^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

^ Myers KM, Davis M (February 2007). "Mechanisms of fear extinction". Molecular Psychiatry. 12 (2): 120–150. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001939. PMID 17160066.
^ Joseph JS, Gray MJ (2008). "Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder". Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim: Treatment and Prevention. 1 (4): 69–80. doi:10.1037/h0100457.
^ Huppert JD, Roth DA (2003). "Treating obsessive-compulsive disorder with exposure and response prevention". The Behavior Analyst Today. 4 (1): 66–70. doi:10.1037/h0100012.
^ Böhnlein J, Altegoer L, Muck NK, Roesmann K, Redlich R, Dannlowski U, Leehr EJ (January 2020). "Factors influencing the success of exposure therapy for specific phobia: A systematic review". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 108: 796–820. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.009. PMID 31830494.
^ Himle JA, Grogan-Kaylor A, Hiller MA, Mannella KA, Norman LJ, Abelson JL, Prout A, Shunnarah AA, Becker HC, Russman Block SR, Taylor SF, Fitzgerald KD (January 2024). "Exposure and response prevention versus stress management training for adults and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder: A randomized clinical trial". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 172: 104458. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2023.104458. PMID 38103359. S2CID 266285353.
^ Song Y, Li D, Zhang S, Jin Z, Zhen Y, Su Y, Zhang M, Lu L, Xue X, Luo J, Liang M, Li X (November 2022). "The effect of exposure and response prevention therapy on obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Psychiatry Research. 317: 114861. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114861. PMID 36179591. S2CID 252530334.
^ Wynn G, Ursano R (2017). "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder". Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.05378-5. ISBN 978-0-12-809324-5.
^ "International OCD Foundation | Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)".

[Myers_2007-1] Myers KM, Davis M (February 2007). "Mechanisms of fear extinction". Molecular Psychiatry. 12 (2): 120–150. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001939. PMID 17160066.

[2] Joseph JS, Gray MJ (2008). "Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder". Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim: Treatment and Prevention. 1 (4): 69–80. doi:10.1037/h0100457.

[3] Huppert JD, Roth DA (2003). "Treating obsessive-compulsive disorder with exposure and response prevention". The Behavior Analyst Today. 4 (1): 66–70. doi:10.1037/h0100012.

[4] Böhnlein J, Altegoer L, Muck NK, Roesmann K, Redlich R, Dannlowski U, Leehr EJ (January 2020). "Factors influencing the success of exposure therapy for specific phobia: A systematic review". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 108: 796–820. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.009. PMID 31830494.

[5] Himle JA, Grogan-Kaylor A, Hiller MA, Mannella KA, Norman LJ, Abelson JL, Prout A, Shunnarah AA, Becker HC, Russman Block SR, Taylor SF, Fitzgerald KD (January 2024). "Exposure and response prevention versus stress management training for adults and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder: A randomized clinical trial". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 172: 104458. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2023.104458. PMID 38103359. S2CID 266285353.

[6] Song Y, Li D, Zhang S, Jin Z, Zhen Y, Su Y, Zhang M, Lu L, Xue X, Luo J, Liang M, Li X (November 2022). "The effect of exposure and response prevention therapy on obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Psychiatry Research. 317: 114861. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114861. PMID 36179591. S2CID 252530334.

[7] Wynn G, Ursano R (2017). "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder". Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.05378-5. ISBN 978-0-12-809324-5.

[auto2-8] "International OCD Foundation | Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)".

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