Virtual Reality Intervention for Speech Anxiety

NCT ID: NCT06086756

Last Updated: 2023-12-13

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

48 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-01

Study Completion Date

2023-12-05

Brief Summary

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Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for speech anxiety and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present study is designed to evaluate whether mood state moderates outcome to a brief VR exposure intervention.

Detailed Description

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The goal of this clinical trial is to compare outcomes of VR exposure therapy for college students with public speaking anxiety following a positive or negative mood induction. The overarching aim of the present study is to determine whether mood state prior to engaging in a brief VR exposure therapy session for public speaking anxiety impacts treatment outcomes.

The study involves three phases: (1) initial screening, (2) in-person assessment and brief exposure intervention for a subset of participants with elevated public speaking anxiety, and (3) a one-week follow-up assessment conducted online. Students who choose to participate and screen high on a public speaking anxiety scale will be assigned to a positive or negative mood induction condition prior to undergoing VR based exposure therapy. Public speaking and social anxiety outcomes are measured immediately post-intervention and one week later.

Researchers will compare participants given a positive mood induction to participants given a negative mood induction to see if public speaking anxiety outcomes differ.

Conditions

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Public Speaking Speech Anxiety

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Positive Mood Induction via positive film clips

The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit positive affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Positive mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Negative Mood Induction via negative film clips

The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit negative affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure intervention plus negative mood induction

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Negative mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Interventions

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Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction

Positive mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exposure intervention plus negative mood induction

Negative mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Self-report of 18 years of age or older
* Current student at Boston University
* Ability to read English to provide informed consent
* Familiarity with a computer keyboard and mouse or a touch screen device (e.g. phone, tablet).
* For Phase 2: speech anxiety scale score of ≥ 14 on the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS)

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous participation (i.e., no participant may take the survey more than once).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Boston University Charles River Campus

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Elias Culver

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Boston University

Locations

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Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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7164E

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id