Virtual Reality Immersive Method for Spider (Phobia) Exposure Therapy (VIMSE)

Stockholm University100 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy as a treatment for specific phobia (spiders). A gamified virtual reality simulation of one-session therapy (VR-OST) will be compared to the gold-standard treatment in the form of traditional one-session phobia treatment (OST) using in-vivo stimuli. This study was powered to detect a non-inferiority margin of a 2-point difference between groups.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Phobia, Specific

Interventions

OST treatment with in-vivo spidersOTHER

Subjects are exposed to phobic stimuli with the aid of a trained psychotherapist during a session of maximum 3 hrs duration. The intensity of exposure is increased in four sequential steps, 1. learning to catch a spider with a glass and paper, 2. touching a spider, 3. letting a spider walk on your hand, 4. letting a spider walk on your body. These stages repeat with increasingly larger spiders. The goal of therapy is not absolute symptom reduction but sufficient reduction to allow the individual to expose themselves in everyday situations.

VR-OST treatment with virtual spidersOTHER

The VR-OST treatment introduces a virtual gamified version of OST treatment using a modern virtual reality headset. Individuals advance themselves through increasing levels of exposure intensity with the assistance of an automated virtual therapist.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Score of 10 or less in Behavioral Approach Test * Individual meeting DSM-5 criteria according to interview for primary diagnosis of specific phobia, spider * Swedish residency * Fluent in Swedish Exclusion Criteria: * Ongoing psychotherapy * Ongoing psychotropic medication (unless stabilized for three months) * Indication of suicidal ideation, as assessed by item 9 of the PHQ-9 * Meets criteria for alcohol or substance use disorder * Meets criteria for serious mental disorder, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or psychosis * Balance and/or eyesight problems (such as lack of stereoscopic vision) that could interfere with VR treatment

Locations (1)

Department of Psychology

Stockholm, Sweden

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Behavioral Approach Test (BAT)

The BAT consists of 13 approach steps measuring intensity of phobia symptoms, from approaching a few metres from to holding a spider.

Time frame: Change from baseline on BAT (1 week)

Behavioral Approach Test (BAT)

The BAT consists of 13 approach steps measuring intensity of phobia symptoms, from approaching a few metres from to holding a spider.

Time frame: Change from baseline on BAT (12 week)

Behavioral Approach Test (BAT)

The BAT consists of 13 approach steps measuring intensity of phobia symptoms, from approaching a few metres from to holding a spider.

Time frame: Change from baseline on BAT (52 week)

Secondary Outcomes

Spider Phobia Questionnaire 31 (SPQ-31)

SPQ-31 features 31 spider-focused scenarios which must be answered by a yes/no response, with ascending scores indicative of increased degree of arachnophobia.

Time frame: Change from baseline on SPQ-31 (1 week)

Spider Phobia Questionnaire 31 (SPQ-31)

SPQ-31 features 31 spider-focused scenarios which must be answered by a yes/no response, with ascending scores indicative of increased degree of arachnophobia.

Time frame: Change from baseline on SPQ-31 (12 week)

Spider Phobia Questionnaire 31 (SPQ-31)

SPQ-31 features 31 spider-focused scenarios which must be answered by a yes/no response, with ascending scores indicative of increased degree of arachnophobia.

Time frame: Change from baseline on SPQ-31 (52 week)

Spider Phobia Questionnaire 31 (SPQ-31)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

SPQ-31 features 31 spider-focused scenarios which must be answered by a yes/no response, with ascending scores indicative of increased degree of arachnophobia.

Time frame: Change from baseline on SPQ-31 (3 year)

Fear of Spiders Questionnaire 18 (FSQ-18)

FSQ-18 features 18 questions about fear and avoidance of spiders.

Time frame: Change from baseline in FSQ-18 (1 week)

Fear of Spiders Questionnaire 18 (FSQ-18)

FSQ-18 features 18 questions about fear and avoidance of spiders.

Time frame: Change from baseline in FSQ-18 (12 week)

Fear of Spiders Questionnaire 18 (FSQ-18)

FSQ-18 features 18 questions about fear and avoidance of spiders.

Time frame: Change from baseline in FSQ-18 (52 week)

Fear of Spiders Questionnaire 18 (FSQ-18)

FSQ-18 features 18 questions about fear and avoidance of spiders.

Time frame: Change from baseline in FSQ-18 (3 year)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7)

GAD-7 features seven items for assessing anxiety and screening for generalized anxiety disorder.

Time frame: Change from baseline in GAD-7 (1 week)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7)

GAD-7 features seven items for assessing anxiety and screening for generalized anxiety disorder.

Time frame: Change from baseline in GAD-7 (12 week)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7)

GAD-7 features seven items for assessing anxiety and screening for generalized anxiety disorder.

Time frame: Change from baseline in GAD-7 (52 week)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7)

GAD-7 features seven items for assessing anxiety and screening for generalized anxiety disorder.

Time frame: Change from baseline in GAD-7 (3 year)

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

PHQ-9 features nine items for assessing depression in a clinical context and screening of depression in the general population.

Time frame: Change from baseline in PHQ-9 (1 week)

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

PHQ-9 features nine items for assessing depression in a clinical context and screening of depression in the general population.

Time frame: Change from baseline in PHQ-9 (12 week)

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

PHQ-9 features nine items for assessing depression in a clinical context and screening of depression in the general population.

Time frame: Change from baseline in PHQ-9 (52 week)

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

PHQ-9 features nine items for assessing depression in a clinical context and screening of depression in the general population.

Time frame: Change from baseline in PHQ-9 (3 year)

Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ)

BBQ features 12 items concerning 6 areas of life rated on importance and satisfaction.

Time frame: Change from baseline in BBQ (1 week)

Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ)

BBQ features 12 items concerning 6 areas of life rated on importance and satisfaction.

Time frame: Change from baseline in BBQ (12 week)

Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ)

BBQ features 12 items concerning 6 areas of life rated on importance and satisfaction.

Time frame: Change from baseline in BBQ (52 week)

Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ)

BBQ features 12 items concerning 6 areas of life rated on importance and satisfaction.

Time frame: Change from baseline in BBQ (3 year)

Diagnostic criteria for specific phobia according to interview (DSM-5)

Time frame: Change from baseline for specific phobia (DSM-5) (12 weeks)

Diagnostic criteria for specific phobia according to interview (DSM-5)

Time frame: Change from baseline for specific phobia (DSM-5) (52 weeks)

Diagnostic criteria for specific phobia according to interview (DSM-5)

Time frame: Change from baseline for specific phobia (DSM-5) (3 years)