Reduction of Avoidance Behavior in Anxiety Disorders through Hypnotic Suggestions while falling asleep: A Proof-of-Concept Study in Individuals with Spider Phobia.

Avoidance behavior is a central feature of anxiety disorders. It significantly contributes to the maintenance of symptoms and often prevents affected individuals from seeking professional help. Anxiety disorders manifest on several levels (e.g., behaviors, cognitions, physiology). Research shows that symptoms on these levels do not necessarily change simultaneously or to the same extent—possibly due to the brain’s differential processing of conscious and unconscious components of fear.

This research project builds on findings from sleep research (Cordi, Schlarb, & Rasch, 2014), which demonstrate that hypnotic suggestions administered during the transition to sleep can improve sleep quality. Building on this, the project pursues two main objectives: first, to specifically target unconscious fear processes during the sleep onset phase; second, to offer an alternative treatment approach for individuals who refuse exposure therapy—the current evidence-based standard treatment for anxiety disorders.