Abstract
Differential efficacy of the psychological treatments for animal phobia: a meta-analytic study. A meta-analysis was performed on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for animal phobia in childhood and adolescence. Nine scientific reports were identified and led to 26 independent studies, 20 treatment groups and 6 control groups. Three hundred and sixty-two children, with an average age of 8 and predominantly girls (68.57%), took part. The psychological treatment was highly effective (d+= 2.80) and the more effective procedure was modeling (d+= 3.02). Results were better when therapy was brief and intensive, it was performed in a natural environment, and the feared animals were snakes, dogs and cats. Response to treatment was better in the youngest children and in boys. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
