@article {12435,
	title = {Large-Group One-Session Treatment: Feasibility in Highly Height Fearful Individuals and Predictors of Outcome},
	journal = {Frontiers in Psychology },
	volume = {10},
	year = {2019},
	abstract = {<p>Objective: Exposure based large-group one-session treatments (LG-OSTs) proved feasible in different situational fears and showed promising short- and long-term outcomes. Based on prior LG-OST protocols we explored feasibility and effectiveness of an LG-OST protocol in four cohorts of individuals highly fearful of heights (N = 104). Moreover, we aimed to identify predictors of LG-OST outcome in order to provide individualized treatment recommendations in the future. Methods: Participants\&rsquo; fear of heights was assessed at pre- and post-treatment as well as at 5 months follow-up using questionnaires and a behavioral approach test (BAT). Pre-treatment indices of negative emotional traits and positive mental health, the extent by which fear-evoking expectancies were violated during exposure, and post-treatment group perception processes were assessed in order to predict the outcome. Results: The LG-OST procedure proved feasible and effective in terms of both subjective and behavioral fear of heights. Post-treatment effects sizes of questionnaires assessing fear of heights ranged between d = 0.94 \&ndash; 1.43. After the treatment, about half of the participants (49.5\%) were able to ascend an aerial fire ladder up to a maximum of 30 m (vs. pre-treatment 17.3\%). Follow up results showed the long-term stability of effects. Among psychological constructs, positive mental health and expectancy violation were the strongest predictors of LG-OST long-term outcome. Conclusion: We conclude that exposure based LG-OSTs are feasible, effective and very efficient compared to individual face-to-face settings. Thus, they represent very promising treatment alternatives for situational fears including fear of heights. Moreover, clinical research may benefit from LG-OST protocols as its high standardization may facilitate the search for mediators and moderators of exposure outcomes.</p>
},
	keywords = {exposure treatment, group treatment, height phobia, large-group one-session treatment, one-session treatment},
	doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02411},
	author = {Andre Wannemueller and Piotr Gruszka and Sarah Chwalek and Sonja Fr{\"o}hlich and delsa and Svenja Schaumburg and Johanna Sch{\"o}ttes and Sonja Wiederhold and J{\"u}rgen Margraf}
}
