Exercise and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Acrophobia

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Fear of Heights
• Interventions: Behavioral: Exercise

• Registration Number: NCT02361203
• Lead Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether aerobic exercise can enhance the effects of exposure therapy treatment for fear of heights.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-01-29
• Study Start: 2015-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-02-05
• Study First Posted: 2015-02-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-01
• Study Completion: 2016-01
• Status Verified: 2016-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-02-01
• Last Update Posted: 2016-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 to 25
• Speaks English fluently
• Score of 80 or higher on the Acrophobia Questionnaire
• SUDS rating of 50 or higher on the Behavioral Avoidance Test or complete refusal to comply with instructions due to intensity of fear
• Passes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus

Exclusion Criteria

• Hearing or visually impaired
• Currently receiving exposure-based treatment for acrophobia
• Able to remain on floor 20 for 30 seconds during BAT with a SUDS rating < 50

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Exercise Pre	Exercise	30 minutes of aerobic exercise before exposure therapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fear scores	7 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Change in fear scores using subjective units of distress will be assessed.
Perceived threat likelihood scores	7 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Change in the perception of threat likelihood on a scale from 1-5 will be assessed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Skin conductance fluctuations	7 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Changes in skin conductance fluctuations will be assessed.
Heart rate fluctuations	7 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Heart rate fluctuations will be assessed.
Acrophobia Severity	14 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Change in score on the Acrophobia Questionnaire
Attitudes Toward Heights	14 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Change in score on the Attitudes Toward Heights Inventory
Clinical Global Improvement	14 (+/- 3) days after exposure therapy	Change in score on the Clinical Global Improvement Scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas at Austin; 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, United States