Alejandro A. Lazarte

Control and Attention During Exposure Influence Arousal and Fear among Insect Phobics

Heart beats, skin conductance, and subjective fear levels were recorded among eight pairs of DSM-III-R spider-phobic subjects (Experiment 1) and among eight pairs of DSM-III-R cockroach-phobic subjects (Experiment 2) who were exposed simultaneously to an approaching specimen during eight 4-minute trials. Control over the approach of the specimen alternated between subjects over trials. On different trials, both subjects were instructed either to attend closely to the features of the specimen or to attend closely to their bodily fear reactions. Among spider-phobic subjects (Experiment 1), Self-Control over the specimen produced higher skin conductance during exposure than did Partner-Control over the specimen; instructions to attend closely to the features of the specimen produced higher skin-conductance than did instructions to attend closely to ones bodily fear reactions. Among cockroach-phobic subjects (Experiment 2), Self-Control over the specimen produced higher skin conductance and higher self-reported fear than did Partner-Control over the specimen during the early exposures. Instructions to attend closely to the specimen produced higher skin conductance and higher self-reported fear through-out the experiment and higher heart rates early during the experiment than did instructions to attend to ones bodily reactions. Empirical generalizations based on these data are intended as contributions toward a fund of experimental information that, in due course, will be used to conceptualize the means by which exposure to feared stimuli leads to fear reduction.

Vagal influence during worry and cognitive challenge

Abstract The primary foci of the study were exploration of the linkage between cognitive and autonomic inflexibility of worry and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and examination of the effects of an analog cognitive restructuring task on this relationship. Cardiac responses of GAD and non-GAD participants were measured to examine the sympathetic and parasympathetic effects of worry and cognitive challenge. Diagnostic groups of undergraduate students were determined via administration of a structured interview, yielding a GAD group (n=16) and a control group (n=19) of individuals without GAD, depression, or panic disorder diagnoses. Cardiac autonomic responses were acquired via electrocardiogram during rest, worry, and cognitive challenge conditions by an experimenter blind to diagnosis. Metrics were compared between the two groups and across the three conditions. Individuals diagnosed with GAD did not differ significantly from controls on autonomic indices. Worry was associated with significantly decreased parasympathetic influence and increased sympathetic activity. Cognitive challenge did not result in significant increased cardiac responsivity. The results indicate that worry behavior is associated with decreased vagal activity, suggest a linkage between autonomic and cognitive inflexibility, and provide further suggestions for improving protocols to assess the autonomic effects of cognitive therapy techniques.

Effects of relaxation training on fear and arousal during in vivo exposure to a caged snake among DSM-III-R simple (snake) phobics

Eight pairs of DSM-III-R snake phobic subjects (Ss) were exposed to a caged snake while seated in front of a package-conveyor apparatus during eight 4-minute trials. Heart rates and skin-conductance levels were recorded before and during each of the eight trials. Self-reports of fear were obtained after each trial. One S in each pair controlled the conveyor on alternating trials. One subject (S) in each pair had received a representative regimen of relaxation training beforehand. Heart-rate decreased more in Ss controlling the conveyor than in their yoked partners. Ss who had received relaxation training showed lower heart-rate change, lower skin-conductance change, and lower self-reports of fear after the exposure trials. Relaxed Ss also moved the snake closer to themselves than did unrelaxed subjects on some trials.

Control and attention influence snake phobics' arousal and fear during laboratory confrontations with a caged snake

Heart rates and skin-conductance levels were recorded among eight pairs of snake-fearful subjects who were exposed simultaneously to an approaching snake during eight 4-min trials. Retrospective ratings of fear were acquired from the 16 subjects after each of the eight exposure trials. Control over the distance between the subjects and the snake alternated between subjects over trials. On different trials both subjects were instructed either to attend closely to the features of the snake or to attend closely to their bodily fear reactions. Instructions to attend closely to the snake produced higher skin-conductance and heart-rate reactivity and marginally higher fear ratings during the early trials than did instructions to attend to ones bodily reactions. Controlling the presentation of the snake produced higher skin-conductance reactivity during the early trials than did not controlling its presentation. Accumulated findings of this sort can be used by clinicians and theorists who work with exposure approaches to behavioral fear therapy.

The Effects of Behavioral Parent Training on Placement Outcomes of Biological Families in a State Child Welfare System

Behavioral parent training has proven effective in improving the skill performance of foster caregivers and biological parents of dependent children during role-play assessments. To date, however, no studies have examined the impact of behavioral parenting skills training on child placement outcomes. We conducted a quasi-experimental archival analysis of the case files of 171 biological parents who completed a behavioral parent training program and 171 control families who did not participate in the program but were matched on the county of service and time of Child Protective Services involvement in Alabama. Results indicate that parents were not only able to demonstrate use of the new skills after behavioral parent training, but that skill acquisition was associated with better placement outcomes for their children compared to control families and a greater number of closed cases for the state service-delivery system.