Abstract
Specific phobia is highly prevalent worldwide. Although the body of intervention studies is expanding, there is a lack of reviews that summarise recent progress and discuss the challenges and direction of research in this area. Hence, this rapid review seeks to systematically evaluate the available evidence in the last five years in the treatment of specific phobias in adults. Studies published between January 2014 to December 2019 were identified through searches on the electronic databases of Medline and PsychINFO. In total, 33 studies were included. Evidence indicates that psychotherapy, and in particular cognitive behaviour therapy, when implemented independently or as an adjunctive, is a superior intervention with large effect sizes. Technology-assisted therapies seem to have a beneficial effect on alleviating fears and are described to be more tolerable than in vivo exposure therapy. Pharmacological agents are investigated solely as adjuncts to exposure therapy, but the effects are inconsistent; propranolol and glucocorticoid may be promising. A handful of cognitive-based therapies designed to alter fear arousal and activation pathways of phobias have presented preliminary, positive outcomes. Challenges remain with the inherent heterogeneity of specific phobia as a disorder and the accompanying variability in outcome measures and intervention approaches to warrant a clear conclusion on efficacy.
Highlights
IntroductionThe body of intervention studies is expanding, there is a lack of reviews that summarise recent progress and discuss the challenges and direction of research in this area
Five studies included in this review have attrition rates of more than 20%10,13,15–17, but they are of survey research design, which comes with an expected high attrition rate[18]
The present review excluded any studies with participants who were not representative of the targeted phobia population, which improved the reliability of the findings presented, such evaluation approaches may not have the same rigour as standardised structured clinical diagnostic assessments
Summary
The body of intervention studies is expanding, there is a lack of reviews that summarise recent progress and discuss the challenges and direction of research in this area This rapid review seeks to systematically evaluate the available evidence in the last five years in the treatment of specific phobias in adults. Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review Specific phobia, which has a lifetime prevalence of 7.4%, is one of the most common disorders[1] It is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) as a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (for example, flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, or seeing blood)[2]. Many more studies have been carried out in this area, offering us new insights into the treatment of specific phobias
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