Virtual Reality Intervention for Speech Anxiety
- Conditions
- Public SpeakingSpeech Anxiety
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Exposure intervention plus negative mood inductionBehavioral: Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction
- Registration Number
- NCT06086756
- Lead Sponsor
- Boston University Charles River Campus
- Brief Summary
Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for speech anxiety and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present study is designed to evaluate whether mood state moderates outcome to a brief VR exposure intervention.
- Detailed Description
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare outcomes of VR exposure therapy for college students with public speaking anxiety following a positive or negative mood induction. The overarching aim of the present study is to determine whether mood state prior to engaging in a brief VR exposure therapy session for public speaking anxiety impacts treatment outcomes.
The study involves three phases: (1) initial screening, (2) in-person assessment and brief exposure intervention for a subset of participants with elevated public speaking anxiety, and (3) a one-week follow-up assessment conducted online. Students who choose to participate and screen high on a public speaking anxiety scale will be assigned to a positive or negative mood induction condition prior to undergoing VR based exposure therapy. Public speaking and social anxiety outcomes are measured immediately post-intervention and one week later.
Researchers will compare participants given a positive mood induction to participants given a negative mood induction to see if public speaking anxiety outcomes differ.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 48
- 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: speech anxiety scale score of ≥ 14 on the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS)
- Previous participation (i.e., no participant may take the survey more than once).
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Negative Mood Induction via negative film clips Exposure intervention plus negative mood induction The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit negative affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes. Positive Mood Induction via positive film clips Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit positive affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Public Speaking Anxiety Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from post-treatment, approximately 2 week post-screen Assessed using the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Valence Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure Self-report measure of how participant feels about having to give a speech
Social Phobia Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure Assessed using the social phobia inventory (SPIN)
Public Speaking Anxiety Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure Assessed using the PRCA-PS
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
🇺🇸Boston, Massachusetts, United States