The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a telemedicine-based virtual reality clinic (Doxy.me VR) works to treat dog, spider, and snake phobias in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Doxy.me VR decrease the severity of phobias better than traditional telemedicine-based treatment? Does this work because it feels more realistic than telemedicine alone?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
240
Participants will complete 7 60-minute exposure therapy sessions in a Virtual Reality Clinic using Virtual Reality stimuli and progress to in vivo exposures. Other Name:
Participants will complete 7 60-minute exposure therapy sessions using photos/videos and progress to in vivo exposures.
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida, United States
Phobia symptom severity
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia (SMSP) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of specific phobia symptoms relative to an individual's feared stimulus. Total scores range from 0 to 4 with higher scores indicating higher phobia severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Dog Phobia Severity
The Dog Phobia Questionnaire (DPQ) is a 27-item, self-report questionnaire assessing the severity of dog phobia symptoms. Scores range from 27 to 189 with higher scores indicating higher phobia severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Snake Phobia Severity
The Snake Anxiety Questionnaire (SNAQ) is a 30-item self-report questionnaire assessing the severity of snake phobia symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating higher phobia severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Spider Phobia Severity
The Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire assessing the severity of spider phobia symptoms. Scores range from 18 to 126 with higher scores indicating higher phobia severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Specific Phobia Diagnosis
The Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool (DART) is a modular semi structured interview corresponding with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Study therapists administer the DART Specific Phobia Module, which provides designations of Absent, Subthreshold, and Present.
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Time frame: Baseline, 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
General Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a 7-item self-report measure of anxiety symptom severity. Scores range from 0 to 15 with higher scores indicating higher anxiety severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Depression Severity
The Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) is an 8-item self-report measure of depression symptom severity. Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating higher depression severity.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Quality of Life Level
The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) is a 16-item self-report measure of quality of life. Scores range from 16 to 112 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment), and 28 weeks Post-Baseline (3-Months Post-Treatment)
Level of Telepresence
The iGroup Presence Questionnaire (iPQ) is a 14-item self-report questionnaire of telepresence. Scores on each subscale range from 0-6 with higher scores indicating more presence.
Time frame: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7; Averaged across weeks
Cybersickness Severity
The Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Questionnaire (CSQ-VR) is an 6-item measure of nausea, vestibular, and oculomotor cybersickness experienced in virtual reality. Scores range from 6 to 27 with higher scores indicating higher levels of cybersickness.
Time frame: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7; Averaged across weeks
Level of Working (Therapeutic) Alliance
The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-SR) is a 12-item client-rated measure of therapeutic alliance. Total scores range from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating a better therapeutic alliance.
Time frame: 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment)
Satisfaction with Therapy
The Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale-Revised (STTS-R) is a 13-item self-report questionnaire that assesses client satisfaction with treatment. Scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction.
Time frame: 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment)
System Usability
The System Usability Scale (SUS) is a 10-item self-report measure of the usability of a particular software system, platform, or app. Scores range from 0-100 with higher scores indicating better usability.
Time frame: 4 Weeks Post-Baseline (Mid-Treatment), 7 Weeks Post-Baseline (Post-Treatment)