Virtual Reality Exposure Versus In Vivo Exposure for Fear of Heights

NCT ID: NCT04737915

Last Updated: 2021-02-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

114 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-06-11

Study Completion Date

2019-03-06

Brief Summary

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This study randomly assigned 114 participants with significant fear of heights to one of three conditions: a) a single session of virtual reality exposure; b) a single session of in vivo exposure; or c) a control condition. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of virtual reality exposure to the efficacy of in vivo exposure or no exposure for participants with significant fear of heights.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Fear of Heights Acrophobia Specific Phobia Anxiety Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Eligible participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a) single session virtual reality exposure; b) single session in vivo exposure; c) waitlist control
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Virtual Reality Exposure

Participants completed a single session of exposure administered via a virtual reality headset. The exposure exercise involved looking over virtual railings into an atrium at various floor levels (the virtual environment was designed to look like the atrium in the in vivo exposure condition). Exposure was conducted in six 6-minute trials for a total of 36 minutes of exposure.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a real environment.

In Vivo Exposure

Participants completed a single session of exposure administered in vivo. The exposure exercise involved looking over actual railings into an atrium at various floor levels. Exposure was conducted in six 6-minute trials for a total of 36 minutes of exposure.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure Therapy (In Vivo)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a virtual environment.

Waitlist Control

Participants watched a neutral video during the time participants in other conditions were completing the exposure exercise. Participants received no exposure-based intervention.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Exposure Therapy (In Vivo)

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a virtual environment.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality)

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a real environment.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Score \>= 45 on the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)

Exclusion Criteria

* Already receiving therapy specifically for fear of heights.
* Has any contraindications to using a virtual reality headset.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Notre Dame

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jennifer Hames

Assistant Clinical Professor & Clinic Director

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Jennifer L Hames, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Notre Dame

Locations

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University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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Interventional

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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