EMG biofeedback training versus systematic desensitization for test anxiety reduction.

Investigated EMG biofeedback training as a method to reduce test anxiety among 40 university students. A procedure combining EMG biofeedback training with systematic desensitization (SD) was compared to an automated SD program not using EMG feedback. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of EMG feedback relaxation training without SD. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (a) EMG biofeedback training with SD, (b) EMG biofeedback relaxation training, (c) automated SD, and (d) no-treatment control. At the end of the program, all participants were administered the Suinn Test Anxiety Behavior Scale, Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale, and an anagrams test, given under threat conditions. Results suggest that EMG biofeedback training is a useful technique for reducing test anxiety, but not necessarily more effective than SD. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group systematic desensitization versus covert positive reinforcement in the reduction of test anxiety.

Compared modified versions of systematic desensitization and covert positive reinforcement to a no-treatment control condition in the reduction of test anxiety in 27 undergraduates. Both experimental groups received 8 treatment sessions, and the systematic desensitization group received 2 additional sessions devoted to relaxation training. The 2 treatments were comparable and generally superior to the control group in pretest-posttest and pretest-follow-up changes as measured by the Suinn Test Anxiety Behavior Scale and the Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test. On an anagrams performance test, the covert reinforcement and control groups were superior to the desensitization group. No significant differences occurred in subjectively experienced anxiety during the performance test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Galvanic skin response and reported anxiety during systematic desensitization.

Preselected 3 groups of 8 females each for high snake fear. 1 group received systematic desensitization with relaxation, another desensitization without relaxation (essentially exposure to phobic visualizations), and the 3rd relaxation and visualization of neutral scenes. Outcome measures indicate that the desensitization group reduced phobic behavior most, followed by the relaxation group, and then the exposure group. Total amplitude of GSR responsivity during a visualization showed a more rapid habituation for the desensitization group than either exposure or relaxation group. Results confirm the initial hypotheses and provide support for a counterconditioning explanation of systematic desensitization with relaxation as the mediator or counterconditioner. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment of anxiety through systematic desensitization in therapy groups.

The effects of short-term treatment by modified systematic desensitization in time-limited intensive therapy groups were evaluated in a matched groups design. 10 chronically anxious college males, treated by the group method, were evaluated on the basis of personality and anxiety scales against an "own-control" period, and 4 equated groups of 10 Ss each. 1 group served as an untreated control for evaluating extra-treatment effects on college grade-point average, as an objective, public criterion. Ss in the remaining groups received 1 of the following individual treatments: systematic desensitization, insight-oriented psychotherapy, or an attention-placebo treatment. The group method produced several significant improvements, suggesting that combined group desensitization offers an efficient and effective treatment for social-evaluative anxiety. (27 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist warmth and status in the systematic desensitization of test anxiety.

Randomly assigned 20 test-anxious undergraduates (as determined by the Sarason-Ganzer Test Anxiety Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) to 4 systematic desensitization conditions, representing 2 levels each of therapist warmth and status. Ratings by treated Ss and independent judges confirmed that the experimental warmth and status manipulations had been successful. Comparisons with 10 untreated, high test anxiety control Ss indicate that treated Ss evidenced significantly greater reductions in both test and trait anxiety. With treated Ss, changes in both test and trait anxiety were greatest in the 2 higher warmth conditions. There were no significant effects of therapist status. Ss ratings of satisfaction with treatment and likelihood of return to desensitization treatment should new problems occur were also highest in the 2 higher warmth conditions. Reasons for the differential effectiveness of the warmth and status factors are discussed. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of structured psychodrama and systematic desensitization in reducing test anxiety.

36 students with examination anxiety took part in a study of the effectiveness of structured psychodrama and systematic desensitization in reducing test anxiety. Ss were randomly assigned to psychodrama, desensitization, or no-treatment control groups. All Ss were tested before and after the treatments on the Suinn Test Anxiety Behavior Scale and the Neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Results show that Ss in both treatment groups significantly reduced their test-anxiety scores compared with the controls. This was also congruent with gains as tested in vivo. A comparison between the 2 treatments, however, shows no significant differences. Also, there were no statistical differences among the 3 groups in neuroticism either before or after the treatments. It is concluded that the structured psychodrama method is as effective a mode of counseling as systematic desensitization in treating test anxiety. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypnosis versus systematic desensitization in the treatment of test anxiety.

Assessed the comparative effectiveness of systematic desensitization (SD) and the directed experience hypnotic technique (HT) in reducing self-reported test anxiety and increasing the academic performance of 36 test-anxious undergraduates. Ss were assigned randomly to either the HT or SD conditions or to 1 of 2 control groups. All Ss had previously scored above the 50th percentile on Sarason's Test Anxiety Questionnaire (TAQ) and below the 85th percentile on a midterm exam. Results indicate that only the SD treatment significantly reduced TAQ scores. No significant improvement in academic performance was observed for either treatment. An additional analysis of high- vs moderate-anxious subgroups failed to show differential treatment effects on either dependent measure. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of graduated behavior rehearsal, feedback, and systematic desensitization for speech anxiety.

48 17–48 yr old speech-anxious undergraduates were offered a 4-wk speech anxiety group. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) graduated behavior rehearsal/feedback (GBR), (b) graduated behavior rehearsal/feedback plus systematic desensitization (GBR/SD), or (c) the no-treatment control. Each S completed a series of pre- and posttreatment tests, including the short form of the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A behavioral measure, the short form of the Behavioral Assessment of Speech Anxiety, was also obtained at pre- and postassessment. Except for the behavioral instrument, the battery of tests was repeated at a 6-wk follow-up. The GBR and GBR/SD treatment groups demonstrated significantly greater speech anxiety reduction than the no-treatment controls at postassessment and follow-up assessment. The exception was that the GBR group did not score significantly lower than the controls on the A-State scale of the STAI. No significant differences were found between the GBR and GBR/SD treatment conditions on any dependent measure. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The process of fear reduction through systematic desensitization.

Investigated the process of fear change during a course of systematic desensitization therapy with 15 female snake-phobic undergraduates. Behavioral, subjective (e.g., Subjective Anxiety Scale and the S-R Inventory of Anxiousness), and physiological measures of fear were taken following each of 8 therapy sessions. Generally, linear reductions were found on behavior and subjective measures, whereas a cubic trend was detected for baseline heart rate. Changes in 1 fear system did not appear to be primary in initiating changes in the other systems. Real-life nonavoidance exposure to the feared stimulus appears to provide an important steering function during the fear change process. High baseline heart rate was a good predictor of behavioral change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of relaxation as self-control and systematic desensitization in the treatment of test anxiety.

Relaxation as self-control and desensitization were compared to a waiting-list control in the reduction of test and other anxieties in 43 undergraduates. Neither active treatment differed significantly from the other, but they did differ significantly from the control treatment on several variables. Ss in both treatments reported less debilitating test anxiety, whereas desensitization Ss showed greater facilitating test anxiety. Under stressful conditions, treated Ss were less worried and anxious, found the situation less aversive, and perceived themselves and their abilities more favorably than controls. Significant reductions in nontargeted anxieties suggested transfer of anxiety-management skills to areas other than test anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of heart rate biofeedback, false biofeedback, and systematic desensitization in reducing speech anxiety: Short- and long-term effectiveness.

Assessed the comparative effectiveness of heart rate biofeedback (HRB) training, false HRB training, and systematic desensitization (SD) in reducing speech anxiety for 27 students chosen for their high scores on the item "speaking before a group" of the Fear Survey Schedule. Results indicate that all 3 groups demonstrated a decrease in self-reported (Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker) and overt motor components of anxiety during 2 posttreatment assessment periods. Physiological measures (HR and skin conductance), however, indicate that the HRB group was associated with less physiological responding during the posttreatment assessments of anxiety relative to the other 2 groups. Results demonstrate that the 3 behavioral component measures of anxiety are not always highly correlated. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Endogenous opiate system and systematic desensitization.

In a double-blind study, phobic patients received intravenous infusions of either naloxone or saline prior to systematic desensitization. Saline-infused subjects significantly demonstrated the predicted symptoms decrease in response to systematic desensitization, whereas naloxone-infused subjects showed no change. Subject reports and psychophysiological measures of arousal indicated no discriminable awareness of the naloxone versus saline condition. The findings appear to be consistent with the hypothesis that activation of the endogenous opiate system (EOS) plays a role in the effectiveness of systematic desensitization. Implications for a common mechanism underlying behavioral and pharmacological treatments are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counselor-subject sex variables in systematic desensitization.

44 male and female undergraduates who scored above the 80th percentile on the Suinn Test Anxiety Behvior Scale (STABS) were used in a test anxiety survey conducted by a state university counseling center. Ss were screened for appropriateness and were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups led by the counselor who had conducted their screening interviews. Treatment groups consisted of 5 male and 5 female Ss, and control groups of 6 male and 6 female Ss. Treatment consisted of accelerated massed desensitization of text anxiety using a standard hierarchy in 4 treatment blocks of 1 hr each, massed in 2 sessions. Outcome measures were the STABS and the Symptom Check List. Treatment was administered by experienced counselors. A 3-factor analysis of variance showed a significant treatment effect by both male and female counselors and a significant effect by the male counselor with female Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client-therapist relationship factor in systematic desensitization.

40 snake-phobic females were matched on degree of behavioral avoidance and subjective fear, and then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (1) a conventional desensitization group, using standard interpersonal procedures; (2) a semiautomated desensitization group in which treatment was delivered by tape recordings; (3) a pseudodesensitization control group; or (4) a no-treatment control group. Ss in both desensitization groups showed significantly greater improvement than did Ss in either of the 2 control groups. No differences were found between conventional and semiautomated procedures. It is concluded that the relationship is neither a primary nor critical factor in desensitization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Habituation model of systematic desensitization.

Discusses the relevance of habituation as a model for response decrement in desensitization. A discussion of the relationship between habituation and extinction leads to the view that there are no sound reasons for explaining desensitization as an extinction rather than as a habituation phenomenon. The maximal habituation theory of desensitization proposed by M. H. Lader and A. M. Mathews (1968) is discussed and relevant evidence reviewed. Finally, a revised habituation theory of desensitization, based on the dual-process theory of habituation, is elaborated, and the role in desensitization of relaxation, stimulus intensity, stimulus lengths, and interstimulus interval lengths are discussed in the context of this theory. It is suggested that relaxation and an incremental stimulus hierarchy may reduce sensitization rather than facilitate habituation. (60 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychodynamic changes through systematic desensitization.

Attempted to integrate psychoanalytic theory and the data from behavior therapy, specifically systematic desensitization. It was found that snake phobics could be significantly discriminated from a group of normals on a measure of castration anxiety. Following systematic desensitization of the fear of harmless snakes, (a) 10 treated snake phobics were significantly lower on manifest anxiety than 10 nontreated snake phobics, but not as low as 10 normals; (b) treated snake phobics were significantly lower than nontreated snake phobics on a TAT measure of castration anxiety, but not as low as normals; and (c) treated snake phobics were not significantly lower than nontreated snake phobics on a Rorschach measure of castration anxiety, and both were significantly higher than normals. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group vicarious desensitization of test anxiety.

Examined whether vicarious desensitization, using videotapes and a small group format, could be used as a treatment for test anxiety. 43 test anxious college students were administered the Test Anxiety Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Ss received either vicarious desensitization, study skills training, or both treatments; there was also a no-treatment control condition. Self-report measures indicated that vicarious desensitization resulted in lower test and trait anxiety than study-skills training alone or no treatment. Academic performance measures, obtained posttreatment and at a 3-mo follow-up, indicated no differential effectiveness. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)