TO TOP

Flight Anxiety

06.03.2023

Flugangst2

Four large airplanes, 507 patients and countless positive reactions: This is the result of a training day against clinical fear of flying offered by the FBZ at Düsseldorf Airport. 45 therapists and an 18-member team of clinical psychology students helped sufferers to overcome their fear of flying.

During the one-session large group treatment on February 25, the therapists used various proven treatment methods. The participants were then able to apply what they had learned during a sightseeing flight over Germany. Since the project is also designed as a study, the FBZ scientists will now compare the success of the methods used.

"We are extremely proud of our team performance and the implementation of this special project in psychotherapy research," emphasizes project manager André Wannemüller. He adds that many participants concluded the day with great enthusiasm: "There were people who had not dared to fly in an airplane for almost 30 years and were now able to overcome their fear or had even never flown before." "Only" 37 people, or about 7 percent of participants, had not managed to master the sightseeing flight, he said. "And even in this group, some participants were able to achieve success - simply because they faced their fear after a long time."

A prerequisite for participation in the study was a detailed diagnostic assessment at the FBZ. The participants were then randomly assigned to four groups, controlled for age, gender and the degree of their fear of flying. Each group learned a different strategy for coping with the fear. "We are now very much looking forward to evaluating the data collected," explains André Wannemüller.

Flugangst2
© FBZ_RUB

Four large airplanes, 507 patients and countless positive reactions: This is the result of a training day against clinical fear of flying offered by the FBZ at Düsseldorf Airport. 45 therapists and an 18-member team of clinical psychology students helped sufferers to overcome their fear of flying.

During the one-session large group treatment on February 25, the therapists used various proven treatment methods. The participants were then able to apply what they had learned during a sightseeing flight over Germany. Since the project is also designed as a study, the FBZ scientists will now compare the success of the methods used.

"We are extremely proud of our team performance and the implementation of this special project in psychotherapy research," emphasizes project manager André Wannemüller. He adds that many participants concluded the day with great enthusiasm: "There were people who had not dared to fly in an airplane for almost 30 years and were now able to overcome their fear or had even never flown before." "Only" 37 people, or about 7 percent of participants, had not managed to master the sightseeing flight, he said. "And even in this group, some participants were able to achieve success - simply because they faced their fear after a long time."

A prerequisite for participation in the study was a detailed diagnostic assessment at the FBZ. The participants were then randomly assigned to four groups, controlled for age, gender and the degree of their fear of flying. Each group learned a different strategy for coping with the fear. "We are now very much looking forward to evaluating the data collected," explains André Wannemüller.


read more


Lupe
© FZB_RUB