Virtual Reality-based Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy for Specific Phobias

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Specific Phobias

• Registration Number: NCT06906770
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Northampton

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to study the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) application in treating phobia. It will also learn about the feasibility and safety of the application for independent use.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the VR EMDR application reduce distress, improve positive cognitions, and decrease avoidance of specific phobias? Can the application help diminish phobia-related bodily sensations and encourage cognitive shifts toward positive beliefs and greater confidence in confronting previously avoided situations? Can the participants independently administer the treatment with minimum assistance?

Participants will:

Visit the site and take the VR EMDR phobia treatment every day for one week. Report their phobia and simulator sickness symptoms through self-report questionnaires or semi-structured interviews.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-31
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-02
• Study Start: 2025-04-28
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Primary Completion: 2025-05-02
• Study Completion: 2025-05-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 17

Inclusion Criteria

• Have a specific phobia (not necessarily clinically significant)

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of mental health disorders
• History of trauma associated with their phobia
• History of panic attacks associated with their phobia
• History of psychosis
• Current self-harm
• Current suicidal ideation
• Regular use of substances that might affect mental state
• Regular use of medications that might affect mental state
• Significant visual impairments
• Severe motion sickness

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult	Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).	The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult is a 10-item measure that assesses the severity of specific phobia in individuals age 18 and older. The measure was designed to be completed by an individual upon receiving a diagnosis of specific phobia (or clinically significant specific phobia symptoms) and thereafter, prior to follow-up visits with the clinician. Each item asks the individual to rate the severity of his or her specific phobia during the past 7 days.
Change in Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs)	Recorded 4 times during each VR EMDR session (first being baseline, and the subsequent three were recorded after each eye movement set in desensitisation phrase) across the 5 consecutive intervention days.	The Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDs) is a self-reported measure of distress experienced by participants during each virtual reality (VR) EMDR session. Participants will rate their level of distress on a scale from 0 (no distress) to 10 (highest distress). Outcome is measured by the change in SUD score throughout each session and cumulative change from Day 1 to Day 5.
Change in Validity of Cognitions (VoC)	Recorded 4 times during each VR EMDR session (first being baseline, and the subsequent three were recorded after each eye movement set in installation phrase) across the 5 consecutive intervention days.	The Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale measures the strength of positive cognitions related to the phobic trigger. Participants will rate how true their preferred positive cognition feels on a scale from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true) during each VR EMDR session. Outcome is measured by change in VoC score throughout each session and cumulative change from Day 1 to Day 5.
Change in IAPT Phobia Scale Score	Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).	The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Phobia Scale assesses the severity of phobic symptoms in terms of avoidance behaviour. Participants will complete the scale before the intervention (baseline) and immediately after the final session (Day 5). Outcome is measured by the change in IAPT Phobia Scale score from baseline to Day 5 post-intervention. Participants achieved remission if they scored below the threshold of 4 in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Phobia (IAPT) phobia scale.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) Score Change	Day 1 and Day 5 post-intervention.	The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) is used to assess potential side effects of virtual reality exposure, including nausea, oculomotor discomfort, and disorientation. Participants will complete the SSQ at the end of the first and last intervention days. Outcome is measured by the change in total SSQ score between Day 1 and Day 5.
Participant Adherence	Day 5 post-intervention.	Description: Adherence will be assessed based on the number of sessions completed
Participant Acceptability	Day 5 post-intervention	Description: Acceptability will be evaluated using participant feedback collected at the end of the intervention period.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Northampton; 🇬🇧 Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom