RESEARCHERS at the University of New England are recruiting individuals suffering from blood injection injury phobia to participate in a new study about the effects of information on phobia response.
Blood injection injury phobia is classified as a specific phobia which includes a persistent, intense and irrational fear of the presence or anticipation of blood, injury and/or injection. The phobia can affect sufferers in a number of different ways and in extreme cases restrict or limit a sufferer’s everyday life and career options.
A distinctive feature of this phobia is its unusual manifestation – in many cases it leads to lowered blood pressure and ultimately, fainting. However, a number of sufferers respond with an accelerated heart rate, high level of anxiety or arousal or a sick feeling to the stomach.
The University of New England study is open to people suffering from blood injection injury phobia who are interested in finding out more about the disorder. Researchers will provide participants with greater information about the phobia and then analyse the effects of the information.
Participation in the study would take a minimum of 60 minutes and initially involve the completion of a short questionnaire, followed by receiving information about the phobia and later filling in another questionnaire. Some participants might be requested to complete a final five-minute follow-up questionnaire about eight weeks after that.
To participate in the study, individuals must be 18 years or older and have a blood injection injury phobia.
Any information or personal details gathered in the course of the study will remain confidential.
For more information on the project, or to discuss the possibility of participating, please contact psychology student Ava Read at aread3@une.edu.au or Associate Professor of Psychology John Malouff at jmalouff@une.edu.au
