The effect of information and coping style on the reduction of phobic anxiety during exposure

Findings from previous research with subjects undergoing aversive medical procedures has shown an interaction between coping style and the amount of information provided about the procedure. The present study extended this work to specific phobics and tested the hypothesis that "monitors" (information seekers) who received relevant information about their phobia and its treatment would improve more with exposure treatment than those who received irrelevant information; conversely, "blunters" (information avoiders) who were given irrelevant information would improve more than those who received relevant information. The role of process variables (baseline arousal, reactivity, and habituation within- and between-sessions) which have previously been found to be related to outcome with exposure was also examined. Twenty-seven animal phobic community volunteers were divided into monitors and blunters. Half of each group was given information relevant to their feared animal and to the treatment they would receive while the other half was given irrevelant information. All subjects completed two 45-minute sessions of exposure to their feared animal. Self-r report, behavioral, and physiological measures of outcome were obtained. Results indicated that all subjects improved and that matching subjects on type of information and coping style did not affect outcome. Although blunters evidenced less subjective and physiological arousal before exposure than monitors did, groups did not differ in degree of behavioral improvement, levels of reactivity to phobic stimuli, or physiological habituation within sessions. However, monitors showed greater habituation of subjective anxiety within sessions and greater habituation of physiological arousal across sessions. These findings are discussed in light of attention to phobic cues and processing of exposure information.