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A13 – Die Auswirkungen gezielter Modifikation von Stimulus-Konsequenz Kontingenzen auf die Extinktion und Exposition bei Angststörungen

Armin Zlomuzica, Marcella Woud, Jürgen Margraf

Die Expositionstherapie ist die effektivste Therapieform bei der Behandlung von Angststörungen. Die Furchtextinktion wird dabei als einer der zentralen Wirkmechanismen diskutiert. Nicht alle Patienten profitieren gleichermaßen gut von der Expositionstherapie. Das primäre Ziel dieses Projektes ist die Identifikation neuer Interventionen zur Stärkung der Furchtextinktion und Verbesserung expositions-basierter Therapien bei spinnenängstlichen Individuen. Hierzu untersuchen wir, inwieweit die Applikation von Stress und Selbstwirksamkeitserhöhung den Expositionstherapieausgang und die Generalisierbarkeit von Therapieeffekten fördern können. Um ein besseres Verständnis über die dahinterliegenden behavioralen und neuronalen Mechanismen zu bekommen, sollen die Effekte der Selbstwirksamkeitserhöhung darüber hinaus im Rahmen einer differentiellen Konditionierungsaufgabe untersucht werden. Dabei sollen die konditionierten Reaktionen auf der elektrodermalen, neuronalen und subjektiven Ebene erfasst werden.

Leitfragen des Projekts A13:

  • Können wir Extinktion und Retrieval von Angst via Stress und dem Versprechen von Selbstwirksamkeit bei Spinnen-phobischen Probanden modulieren?
  • Können wir diese Interventionen benutzen, um bei Spinnen-fürchtenden Probanden während und nach dem EBT eine effizientere und anhaltende Verringerung des Vermeidungsverhaltens und der Angst zu erreichen?
  • Reichen diese Interventionen aus, um Angstverminderungen auf verschiedenen Ebenen des Angstsystems (subjektiv, behavioral und physiologisch) zu induzieren?
  • Können wir die positive Wirkung von SEE auf ein optimiertes Extinktionslernen und Retrieval zurückführen?
  • Ist SEE assoziiert mit Veränderungen der neuronalen Aktivierung in bestimmten Gehirnregionen stark mit der Extinktion von Angst verknüpft? Wird SEE durch spezifische Aktivierungen von Downstream-Pfaden reflektiert, d.h. einer verstärkten Beteiligung spezifischer Teilregionen des präfrontalen Kortex?
Zurück zur Projektübersicht

Armin Zlomuzica

Projektleiter A13

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Marcella Woud

Projektleiterin A13

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Jürgen Margraf

Projektleiter A13

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Beray Macit

Doktorandin A13

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Annalisa Lipp

Doktorandin A13

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

10 projektrelevante Publikationen

Labrenz F, Woud ML, Elsenbruch S, Icenhour A (2022) The good, the bad, and the ugly – chances, challenges, and clinical implications of avoidance research in psychosomatic medicine. Front. Psychiatry; 13:841734. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.841734

Lipp A, Macit B, Woud ML, Dere E, Zlomuzica A (2023a) Conscious knowledge of CS-UCS contingency information affects extinction retrieval of conditioned disgust responses: findings from an online de novo disgust conditioning task. Int. J. Clin. Health. Psychol. 23(3):100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100368

Lipp A, Zhang XC, Dere E, Zlomuzica A (2023b) The role of self-efficacy in specific fears. PLoS One, 24;18(3):e0283660.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283660

Lipp A, Zlomuzica A (2025) Differences in conditioning using unconditioned stimuli evoking fear, disgust or both emotions simultaneously.  https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8j7fw_v1

Macit B, Lipp A, Zlomuzica A, Engler H, Blackwell S, Würtz F, Margraf J, Woud ML (submitted) Challenging heights: Findings from a randomized controlled trial testing interpretation bias modification as an adjunct to exposure therapy for acrophobic patients. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/s48aq_v1

Raeder F, Merz CJ, Margraf J, Zlomuzica A (2020) The association between fear extinction, the ability to accomplish exposure and exposure therapy outcome in specific phobia. Sci. Rep., 9;10(1):4288. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61004-3

Raeder F, Merz CJ, Tegenthoff M, Dere E, Wolf OT, Margraf J, … Zlomuzica A (2023) Do oral contraceptives modulate the effects of stress induction on one-session exposure efficacy and generalization in women? Psychopharmacology (Berl), 240(5):1075-1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06345-3

Raeder F, Heidemann F, Schedlowski M, Margraf J, Zlomuzica A (2019c) No pills, more skills: The adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use on exposure therapy benefit. J. Psychiatr. Res. 119:95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.09.016

Raeder F, Woud ML, Schneider S, Totzeck C, Adolph D, Margraf J, Zlomuzica A (2019a) Reactivation and evaluation of mastery experiences promotes exposure benefit in height phobia. Cognitive Ther. Res., 43, 948-958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-019-10018-x

Raeder F, Merz CJ, Tegenthoff M, Wolf OT, Margraf J, Zlomuzica A (2019d) Post-exposure cortisol administration does not augment the success of exposure therapy: A randomized placebo-controlled study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 99:174-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.015

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to „take better care of themselves“ could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.