Virtual Reality Intervention for Fear of Heights

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Acrophobia
• Interventions: Behavioral: Exposure Intervention Plus Music Induction; Behavioral: Exposure Intervention With No Music Induction

• Registration Number: NCT06468878
• Lead Sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus

Brief Summary

Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for acrophobia (fear of heights) and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present study is designed to evaluate the effects of liked, non-lyrical background music on the efficacy of a brief VR exposure intervention.

Detailed Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare acrophobia (fear of heights) outcomes for VR exposure therapy in college students with elevated acrophobia when listening to music during exposure versus no music. The overarching aim of the current study is to determine how liked, non-lyrical background music will influence acrophobia outcomes after a brief exposure therapy session in VR.

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

Researchers will compare participants in the music condition to participants in the non-music condition to see if acrophobia outcomes differ.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-06-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-06-16
• Study First Posted: 2024-06-21
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Study Start: 2024-07-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-22
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-23
• Primary Completion: 2025-05
• Study Completion: 2025-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 44

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: Acrophobia score of ≥ 45.45 on the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ) Anxiety Subscale

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Exclusion Criteria

• Previous participation (i.e. no participant may take the survey more than once).

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Exposure Intervention with Non-Lyrical, Liked Background Music	Exposure Intervention Plus Music Induction	Participants will be presented with a list of instrumental songs without lyrics from popular movies. Participants will then rank the songs in order of those they would like to hear the most. During VR heights exposure the participants' highest-ranked songs will be played in the background at a low volume.
Exposure Intervention without Background Music	Exposure Intervention With No Music Induction	Participants will undergo VR heights exposure without background music.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Acrophobia (Fear of Heights)	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure	Assessed using the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ) Anxiety Subscale

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Valance	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure	Self-report measure of how participant feels about experiencing high-height environments.
Height-Relevant Interpretations	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure	Assessed using the Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Boston University; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States