The effect of cognitive drill therapy on cleithrophobia

This study examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Drill Therapy (CDT) in reducing symptoms of cleithrophobia. A pre-test – post-test quasi-experimental design with a control group was employed. The sample consisted of 160 participants aged between 18 and 40 who exhibited clinically significant cleithrophobia symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 80) or a control group (n = 80). The experimental group received CDT, while the control group received no intervention and was assessed at the same time intervals. Cleithrophobia and anxiety levels were measured using the Cleithrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The results indicated that the experimental group showed significant reductions in anxiety, overall cleithrophobia, and its subdimensions, restriction and suffocation compared to the control group. These findings suggest that CDT is an effective psychological intervention for reducing both cognitive and emotional components of cleithrophobia.