A Meta-Analysis of Conditioned Fear Generalization in Anxiety-Related Disorders

Abstract

Objective: Generalization of conditioned fear is adaptive in some situations but maladaptive when fear excessively generalizes to innocuous stimuli with incidental resemblance to a genuine threat cue. Recently, empirical interest in fear generalization as a transdiagnostic explanatory mechanism underlying anxiety-related disorders has accelerated. As there are now several studies of fear generalization across multiple types of anxiety-related disorders, the authors conducted a meta-analysis of studies reporting behavioral measures (subjective ratings and psychophysiological indices) of fear generalization in anxiety-related disorder vs. comparison groups.Method: We conducted systematic searches of electronic databases (conducted from January-October 2020) for fear generalization studies involving anxiety-related disorder groups or subclinical analogue groups. A total of 300 records were full-text screened and two unpublished datasets were obtained, yielding 16 studies reporting behavioral fear generalization. Random-effects meta-analytic models and meta-regressions were applied to the behavioral data.Results: Fear generalization was significantly heightened in anxiety-related disorder participants (N=439) relative to comparison participants (N=428). We did not identify any significant clinical, sample, or methodological moderators. Conclusion: Heightened fear generalization is quantitatively supported as distinguishing anxiety-related disorder groups from comparison groups. Evidence suggests this effect is transdiagnostic, relatively robust to experimental or sample parameters, and that generalization paradigms are a well-supported framework for neurobehavioral investigations of learning and emotion in anxiety-related disorders. We discuss these findings in the context of prior meta-analyses and future directions and challenges for the field.

Perception of visual homogeneity as a precursor to the generalization of threat across racial outgroup individuals

“…In addition to such intergroup biases, dysfunctional social threat learning may contribute to the development and maintenance of psychopathological fear and anxiety. The influence of anxiety on threat generalization (Cooper et al, 2022;Dunsmoor & Paz, 2015) may be particularly relevant for understanding dysfunctional intergroup processes. Another interesting followup question concerns the reciprocity of outgroup categorization and threat generalization in intercultural settings with different visual groups (Vizioli et al, 2010).…”

Fear Generalization in Individuals with Subclinical Levels of Panic Disorder

“…Importantly, CRs are not limited to the CSs but can spread also to stimuli resembling it (Generalization Stimuli or GSs; e.g., a circle that is a bit smaller than the CS+). This shows that CRs can be elicited not only by stimuli that are directly associated with the original aversive event, but also by stimuli that share formal or perceptual similarities with the CS (Cooper et al, 2022;Dymond et al, 2015;Fraunfelter et al, 2022;Honig & Urcuioli, 1981). Importantly, fear generalization may be a mechanism for why fear responses can generalize to neutral stimuli or situations even in the absence of direct conditioning.…”

“…The typical way for investigating the acquisition and maintenance of panic symptomatology in humans is differential fear conditioning procedures (Cooper et al, 2022).…”

A psychological mechanism for the development of anxiety

“…Another construct that has recently gained attention is overgeneralization, that is the tendency to respond to stimuli somewhat similar to those that predict an aversive event. It has been observed that healthy participants who score high on anxiety (Sep et al, 2019) and participants with a clinical diagnosis (Cooper et al, 2022) both show more generalization than either people scoring low on anxiety or without a clinical diagnosis. Similarly, it has been observed that in individuals with anxiety, the CS+/CS-discrimination proceeds slower (CS refers to a conditioned stimulus and +/-refer to the Growth of anxiety 4…”