Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance

Cuddihy, Gemma; Quigley, Martyn; Zuj, Daniel; Dymond, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101801

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Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance

Gemma Cuddihy, Martyn Quigley

, Daniel Zuj, Simon Dymond

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, Volume: 78, Start page: 101801

Swansea University Authors: Gemma Cuddihy, Martyn Quigley , Daniel Zuj, Simon Dymond

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101801

Abstract

Background and objectivesIn counterconditioning, a conditioned aversive stimulus (CS) is paired with an appetitive stimulus to reduce fear and avoidance. Findings are, however, mixed on the relative impact of counterconditioning versus standard extinction, where the CS is presented in the absence of...

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Published in:	Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
ISSN:	0005-7916
Published:	Elsevier BV 2023
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61772

first_indexed	2022-11-03T16:13:34Z
last_indexed	2023-01-13T19:22:45Z
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Findings are, however, mixed on the relative impact of counterconditioning versus standard extinction, where the CS is presented in the absence of the aversive event. This analogue treatment study investigated the impact of counterconditioning relative to standard extinction on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance with an online fear-conditioning task conducted with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli during the pandemic.MethodsFollowing habituation, in which two CSs (male faces wearing face-coverings) were presented in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus (US; a loud female scream), participants (n = 123) underwent threat-conditioning where one stimulus (CS+) was followed by the US and another (CS-) was not. In avoidance learning, the US could be prevented by making a simple response in the presence of the CS+. Next, participants received either counterconditioning in which trial-unique positively rated images of scenes from before the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions (e.g., hugging others and holding hands) were presented with the CS + or no-counterconditioning (i.e., extinction). In the final test phase, avoidance was available, and all US deliveries were withheld.ResultsCounterconditioning led to diminished threat expectancy and reduced avoidance relative to no-counterconditioning. Fear ratings did not differ between groups.LimitationsNo physiological measures were obtained.ConclusionsImplemented online during the pandemic with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli, counterconditioning was effective at reducing persistent avoidance and threat expectancy.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry</journal><volume>78</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>101801</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Elsevier BV</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>0005-7916</issnPrint><issnElectronic/><keywords>Counterconditioning; Avoidance; Exposure therapy; COVID-19</keywords><publishedDay>1</publishedDay><publishedMonth>3</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2023</publishedYear><publishedDate>2023-03-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101801</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Psychology School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>PSYS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal)</apcterm><funders>WG Project Grant 95</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2022-11-29T12:30:35.0012146</lastEdited><Created>2022-11-03T16:11:28.4444562</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Psychology</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Gemma</firstname><surname>Cuddihy</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Martyn</firstname><surname>Quigley</surname><orcid>0000-0003-4342-1369</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Daniel</firstname><surname>Zuj</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Simon</firstname><surname>Dymond</surname><orcid>0000-0003-1319-4492</orcid><order>4</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>61772__25951__70fc854bdc514758b33356cb1ab70d87.pdf</filename><originalFilename>61772.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2022-11-29T12:28:46.4313180</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>1478236</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>© 2022 The Author(s). 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spelling	2022-11-29T12:30:35.0012146 v2 61772 2022-11-03 Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance 0689d6e6f7f63ed20ffe78cea9c07646 Gemma Cuddihy Gemma Cuddihy true false 45ba0b00b12b2a4cd533dcd42f0121d9 0000-0003-4342-1369 Martyn Quigley Martyn Quigley true false e4ea88775fc5b3764aa6322a2285a582 Daniel Zuj Daniel Zuj true false 8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075 0000-0003-1319-4492 Simon Dymond Simon Dymond true false 2022-11-03 PSYS Background and objectivesIn counterconditioning, a conditioned aversive stimulus (CS) is paired with an appetitive stimulus to reduce fear and avoidance. Findings are, however, mixed on the relative impact of counterconditioning versus standard extinction, where the CS is presented in the absence of the aversive event. This analogue treatment study investigated the impact of counterconditioning relative to standard extinction on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance with an online fear-conditioning task conducted with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli during the pandemic.MethodsFollowing habituation, in which two CSs (male faces wearing face-coverings) were presented in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus (US; a loud female scream), participants (n = 123) underwent threat-conditioning where one stimulus (CS+) was followed by the US and another (CS-) was not. In avoidance learning, the US could be prevented by making a simple response in the presence of the CS+. Next, participants received either counterconditioning in which trial-unique positively rated images of scenes from before the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions (e.g., hugging others and holding hands) were presented with the CS + or no-counterconditioning (i.e., extinction). In the final test phase, avoidance was available, and all US deliveries were withheld.ResultsCounterconditioning led to diminished threat expectancy and reduced avoidance relative to no-counterconditioning. Fear ratings did not differ between groups.LimitationsNo physiological measures were obtained.ConclusionsImplemented online during the pandemic with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli, counterconditioning was effective at reducing persistent avoidance and threat expectancy. Journal Article Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 78 101801 Elsevier BV 0005-7916 Counterconditioning; Avoidance; Exposure therapy; COVID-19 1 3 2023 2023-03-01 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101801 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) WG Project Grant 95 2022-11-29T12:30:35.0012146 2022-11-03T16:11:28.4444562 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Gemma Cuddihy 1 Martyn Quigley 0000-0003-4342-1369 2 Daniel Zuj 3 Simon Dymond 0000-0003-1319-4492 4 61772__25951__70fc854bdc514758b33356cb1ab70d87.pdf 61772.pdf 2022-11-29T12:28:46.4313180 Output 1478236 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY license true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
spellingShingle	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance Gemma Cuddihy Martyn Quigley Daniel Zuj Simon Dymond
title_short	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
title_full	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
title_fullStr	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
title_full_unstemmed	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
title_sort	Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance
author_id_str_mv	0689d6e6f7f63ed20ffe78cea9c07646 45ba0b00b12b2a4cd533dcd42f0121d9 e4ea88775fc5b3764aa6322a2285a582 8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075
author_id_fullname_str_mv	0689d6e6f7f63ed20ffe78cea9c07646_*_Gemma Cuddihy 45ba0b00b12b2a4cd533dcd42f0121d9__Martyn Quigley e4ea88775fc5b3764aa6322a2285a582__Daniel Zuj 8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075_*_Simon Dymond
author	Gemma Cuddihy Martyn Quigley Daniel Zuj Simon Dymond
author2	Gemma Cuddihy Martyn Quigley Daniel Zuj Simon Dymond
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publisher	Elsevier BV
college_str	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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description	Background and objectivesIn counterconditioning, a conditioned aversive stimulus (CS) is paired with an appetitive stimulus to reduce fear and avoidance. Findings are, however, mixed on the relative impact of counterconditioning versus standard extinction, where the CS is presented in the absence of the aversive event. This analogue treatment study investigated the impact of counterconditioning relative to standard extinction on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance with an online fear-conditioning task conducted with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli during the pandemic.MethodsFollowing habituation, in which two CSs (male faces wearing face-coverings) were presented in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus (US; a loud female scream), participants (n = 123) underwent threat-conditioning where one stimulus (CS+) was followed by the US and another (CS-) was not. In avoidance learning, the US could be prevented by making a simple response in the presence of the CS+. Next, participants received either counterconditioning in which trial-unique positively rated images of scenes from before the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions (e.g., hugging others and holding hands) were presented with the CS + or no-counterconditioning (i.e., extinction). In the final test phase, avoidance was available, and all US deliveries were withheld.ResultsCounterconditioning led to diminished threat expectancy and reduced avoidance relative to no-counterconditioning. Fear ratings did not differ between groups.LimitationsNo physiological measures were obtained.ConclusionsImplemented online during the pandemic with COVID-19-relevant appetitive stimuli, counterconditioning was effective at reducing persistent avoidance and threat expectancy.
published_date	2023-03-01T20:17:00Z
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score	11.04748

Online counterconditioning with COVID-19-relevant stimuli in lockdown: Impact on threat expectancy, fear, and persistent avoidance

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