Effects of exposure and cognitive restructuring on reactivity and habituation to heart rate in you

We analyze the effects of exposure and cognitive restructuring on heart rate reactivity (HRR) and heart rate habituation (HRH) physiological variables in 85 patients diagnosed of social phobia facing an impromptu speech task. The participants were randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: a) [EX + RC]: exposure and cognitive restructuring components, both combined in every session (10 sessions); b) (EX)-(RC): exposure block (5 sessions) followed by a cognitive restructuring block (5 sessions) and c) a wait list control group that after three months was assigned to the treatment (RC)-(EX), in which a cognitive restructuring block (5 sessions) was used followed by an exposure block (5 sessions). All the treatment protocols proved to be beneficial in reducing the HRR and increasing the HRH. The combined treatment was not superior to each treatment protocol on its own (treatments b and c). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)