Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Specific Phobia: A Systematic Review

Öz

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness and current applications of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of specific phobias. Designed as a systematic review, this study did not utilize any field applications or scales. Following the PRISMA method, it was limited to English-language studies indexed in the ResearchGate and PubMed databases between 2016 and 2026. Based on a search using predetermined keywords, 10 randomized controlled trials meeting the criteria were included in the analysis. The study's findings reveal that CBT is an effective and reliable approach in the treatment of specific phobias across different age groups and phobia types. In particular, exposure-based techniques play a central role in reducing anxiety responses to phobic stimuli; virtual reality and internet-based interventions support the sustainability of this effectiveness in different environments. The study's conclusion demonstrates that CBT is a method that not only reduces symptoms but also provides long-term improvement in some phobia types and follow-up periods in the treatment of specific phobias. It highlights CBT as a primary and evidence-based method in the treatment of specific phobias.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Specific Phobia
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Systematic Review
• Treatment

Özgül Fobi Tedavisinde Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi: Sistematik Bir Derleme

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, özgül fobi tedavisinde Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi’ nin (BDT) etkililiğini ve güncel uygulamalarını incelemektir. Sistematik derleme modelinde tasarlanan bu çalışmada; herhangi bir saha uygulaması veya ölçek kullanılmamıştır. PRISMA yöntemi izlenerek 2016–2026 yılları arasında ResearchGate ve PubMed veri tabanlarından dizinlenen İngilizce çalışmalarla sınırlandırılmıştır. Belirlenen anahtar kelimeler doğrultusunda yapılan tarama sonucunda, kriterleri karşılayan 10 randomize kontrollü çalışma analize dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmanın bulguları, BDT’nin özgül fobi tedavisinde farklı yaş grupları ve farklı fobi türlerinde etkili ve güvenilir bir yaklaşım olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle maruz bırakma temelli tekniklerin fobik uyaranlara verilen kaygı tepkilerini azaltmada merkezi bir rol oynadığı; sanal gerçeklik ve internet tabanlı müdahalelerin ise bu etkililiğin farklı ortamlarda da sürdürülebilirliğini desteklediği göstermektedir. Çalışmanın sonucu, BDT’nin, özgül fobi tedavisinde sadece semptom azaltmakla kalmayıp aynı zamanda bazı fobi türlerinde ve takip sürelerinde uzun süreli iyileşme sağlayabilen bir yöntem olduğunu göstermektedir. BDT’nin özgül fobi tedavisinde birincil ve kanıta dayalı bir yöntem olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Özgül Fobi
• Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi
• Sistematik Derleme
• Tedavi

Kaynakça

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