Fear Ladder

Editorial & Review Policy

How we research, draft, fact-check, and update the situation guides and ladders published on Fear Ladder.

Source Standards & Evidence-Based Principles

All ladders on Fear Ladder are built upon principles of behavioral exposure and inhibitory learning documented in mainstream psychological science. Every situation guide cites authoritative, publicly accessible health institutions and peer-reviewed journals, such as:

  • National Health Service (NHS UK)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
  • Peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Behaviour Research and Therapy
  • For facts about a specific place or vehicle (how elevators or aircraft are kept safe), the relevant regulator or safety body, such as the FAA or the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, and occasionally a manufacturer's published safety facts, which we name as such

We do not accept commercial sponsorships, affiliate partnerships, or pharmaceutical advertising. Fear Ladder is made by the team behind a mobile app for panic and anxiety, and some pages invite you to hear when that app launches.

Human Fact-Checking & Editorial Process

Initial outlines and situational step ideas may be drafted using machine assistance to map real-world scenarios. However, no situation guide is published without thorough human editorial review:

  1. Safety Review: Verifying that no step requires physically dangerous, illegal, or reckless activities.
  2. Gradual Progression Check: Ensuring fear ratings are properly spaced (neighbours differ by ≤20 points) from approachable beginner actions to peak goals.
  3. Source Verification: Checking that every cited study or medical portal URL exists and directly supports the contextual explanations.
  4. Attribution: Every guide states the name of the team member who performed the fact-check alongside the last reviewed date.

Updates and Corrections

When a source changes or we correct a guide, the correction is fact-checked the same way and the “Last reviewed” date on the guide is updated.

If you notice an inaccuracy, a broken reference link, or an unhelpful step suggestion in any of our ladders, please write to us at the address on the Privacy Policy page so we can review and correct it.