Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Agoraphobic Participants

NCT00734370 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KP-2008-518
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly for specific phobias as fear of heights and fear of flying (e.g. Powers \& Emmelkamp, 2008). Recent technological advances (e.g. more realistic avatars) make research into the efficacy of VRET for participants with elevated agoraphobic symptoms desirable. Therefore, the aim of the present research proposal is to investigate the comparative efficacy of:

1. 1.enhanced VRET making use of the latest avatar technology with
2. 2.exposure in vivo in agoraphobic participants
3. 3.wait-list control.

Conditions

Panic Disorder; Agoraphobia

Keywords

Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS); Mobility Inventory for Agoraphobia (MI); Behavioural Avoidance Test (BAT)

  Assessed at pre- and post-treatment and 6-12 months follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory (ASI); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS); Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ); Bodily Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ); Panic Appraisal Inventory (PAI)

  Process measures: are taken prior to treatment, after the fourth treatment session and at post-treatment. The PDSS and PAI will be administered every therapy session

Study Arms (3)

VRET

EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for agoraphobic participants

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for agoraphobic participants

Exposure in vivo

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Standard exposure in vivo for panic disorder

Behavioral: Standard exposure in vivo for agoraphobic participants

Wait-list control

NO INTERVENTION

Wait-list control group. Participants from this arm are randomized to the two active conditions after 10 weeks of waiting.

Interventions

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for agoraphobic participants BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is comprised of 10 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder and agoraphobia with components of * Psycho-education, breathing training and cognitive restructuring * Virtual reality Exposure to agoraphobic situations and interoceptive exposure * Relapse prevention

VRET

Standard exposure in vivo for agoraphobic participants BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is comprised of 10 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder and agoraphobia with components of * Psycho-education, breathing training and cognitive restructuring * Standard exposure in vivo to agoraphobic situations and interoceptive exposure * Relapse prevention (according to the protocol of Craske \& Barlow)

Exposure in vivo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• A full diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia according to the DSM-IV
• Between the ages of 18-65 years
• Sufficient fluency in Dutch to complete treatment and research protocol

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of medical condition, assessed by self-report questionnaires at the intake (i.e., pregnancy, seizure disorder, pacemaker)
• Current use of Beta-blockers
• Current use of tranquilizers (Benzodiazepines)
• Unstable psychotropic medication
• Substance dependence
• Psychosis
• Depression with suicidal ideation
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Dementia or other severe cognitive impairment
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Anti-social Personality Disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VU University of Amsterdam: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Panic Disorder; Agoraphobia

Interventions

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Phobic Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, Psychologic; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Paul MG Emmelkamp, Professor

  University of Amsterdam

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2008
• First Posted: August 14, 2008
• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2011
• Study Completion: January 1, 2012
• Last Updated: September 13, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-09

Locations

NL (1)