Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Exposure Treatment of Choking Phobia: A Case Study

Michael Stein

Date of Award

6-23-2010

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Ragnar Storaasli

Second Advisor

John McNeill

Third Advisor

Joanne Steinwachs

Keywords

Asphyxia, Phobias, Treatment

Abstract

One might choke if they observed the lack of research on choking phobia. McNally's (1994) review of the literature on choking phobia found only 25 studies addressing the treatment of choking phobia. The vast majority of these were case studies and none were randomized controlled trials. A search of the literature since then yielded only a few more studies. Given the dearth of information available about choking phobia and its treatment, it is important to document cases treated successfully with novel approaches. My goal in this paper is therefore to illustrate the use of exposure therapy augmented by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; e.g., see Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999; Hayes and Strosahl, 2004) in the treatment of an adult male presenting with fear of choking and to offer suggestions for the optimal treatment of choking phobia. To my knowledge, there are no documented cases of elements of ACT being used in the treatment of choking phobia to be found in the literature.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Extent

18 pages

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