FIGURE 1. Acrophobia within the virtual environment is improved with D-Cycloserine68.
A. Change in SUDS from pre- to post-test following two therapy sessions that occurred ~1 week prior to this short-term follow-up assessment. Decrease in SUDS level (y axis) is shown for each floor (1–19) of the virtual glass elevator. Overall ANOVA was performed using pre-post difference and floor as within subjects variables and drug group as between subjects variable. Significant overall pre-post changes were seen: F(1,25)=38, P<.001. Significant effect of floor was found: F(6,150)=89, P<.001. Most importantly, significant effect of pre-post X floor X drug interaction was found: F(6,150)=3.8, P<.001.
B. Change in SUDS from pre to post-test at the 3-month long-term follow-up assessment. Statistics were performed as above. Significant overall pre-post changes were seen: F(1,17)=21, P<.001. Significant effect of floor was found: F(6,102)=81, P<.001. Most importantly, significant effect of pre-post X floor X drug interaction was found: F(6,102)=2.4, P<.05.
Ressler KJ, Rothbaum BO, Tannenbaum L, et al. Cognitive enhancers as adjuncts to psychotherapy: use of D-cycloserine in phobic individuals to facilitate extinction of fear. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:136-144.
SUDS=subjective units of discomfort; ANOVA=analysis of variance.