Comparing the Efficacy of a Single-Session Virtual Reality Treatment for Fear of Heights to In Vivo Exposure and No Treatment
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Notre Dame
- Enrollment
- 114
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
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.
Arms & Interventions
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.
Intervention: Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality) (Behavioral)
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.
Intervention: Exposure Therapy (In Vivo) (Behavioral)
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.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)
Time Frame: 1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)
Participants completed the anxiety subscale of the AQ, a 20-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported anxiety related to acrophobia. Scores for the subscale are summed, and totals range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)
Time Frame: 1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)
Participants completed the HIQ, a 16-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported interpretations of an imagined experience of heights. Items are summed scored, and totals ranged from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater height fear-relevant interpretation bias.
Behavioral Approach Task (BAT)
Time Frame: 1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)
Participants walked up a staircase until they reach the highest level they can complete, while stopping to look over the ledge toward the floor at each landing. During each BAT, fear response was assessed behaviorally (highest step reached) and subjectively (self reported levels of fear).
Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)
Time Frame: Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)
Participants completed the anxiety subscale of the AQ, a 20-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported anxiety related to acrophobia. Scores for the subscale are summed, and totals range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
Behavioral Approach Task (BAT)
Time Frame: Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)
Participants walked up a staircase until they reach the highest level they can complete, while stopping to look over the ledge toward the floor at each landing. During each BAT, fear response was assessed behaviorally (highest step reached) and subjectively (self reported levels of fear).
Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)
Time Frame: Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)
Participants completed the HIQ, a 16-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported interpretations of an imagined experience of heights. Items are summed scored, and totals ranged from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater height fear-relevant interpretation bias.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Jennifer Hames
Assistant Clinical Professor & Clinic Director
University of Notre Dame