Virtual Reality Exposure Versus In Vivo Exposure for Fear of Heights

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Fear of Heights; Acrophobia; Specific Phobia; Anxiety Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT04737915
• Lead Sponsor: University of Notre Dame

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-06-11
• Primary Completion: 2019-03-06
• Study Completion: 2019-03-06
• Study First Submitted: 2021-01-28
• Status Verified: 2021-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-02-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-02-03
• Study First Posted: 2021-02-04
• Last Update Posted: 2021-02-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 114

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)	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)	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)	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).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Notre Dame; 🇺🇸 Notre Dame, Indiana, United States