In Vivo Versus Augmented Reality Exposure for Small Animal Phobia

NCT01361074 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UJaumeI01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to explore the differential efficacy of in vivo exposure versus augmented reality exposure in the treatment of specific phobia (small animals). The hypothesis is: There will not be significant statistical differences in the efficacy of in vivo exposure therapy versus augmented reality exposure in the treatment of specific phobia (small animals).

Conditions

Phobic Disorders

Keywords

Virtual reality; Augmented reality; In vivo exposure; One session treatment; ICT; Efficacy; Specific phobia; Anxiety disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT, Öst, Salkovskis, and Hellström's, 1991) at pre, post intervention and 3 and 12-month follow-up periods

  The BAT assesses the severity of the subjective fear, avoidance, and belief in the catastrophic thoughts of the participants on a scale of 0 to 10 before they entered in a room with a feared insect. A container with a live cockroach or spider in it was placed 5 meters from the entrance. Participants were asked to enter the room and approach the insect as closely as possible. They were told that they could terminate the behavioral test at any point. Their performances in the test were scored, taking into account their final proximity to the insect and was converted to a behavioral score.

  At pre (baseline), post intervention and 3 and 12-month follow-up periods

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Spider Phobia Beliefs Questionnaire (SPBQ; adapted from Arntz, Lavy, Van der Berg, & Van Rijsoort, 1993) at pre, post intervention and 3 and 12-month follow-up periods

  At pre (baseline), post intervention and 3 and 12-month follow-up periods

Study Arms (2)

In Vivo Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: In Vivo Exposure for Animal Phobia following Öst´s guidelines

Augmented Reality Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Augmented Reality Exposure for Animal Phobia following Öst´s guidelines

Interventions

In Vivo Exposure for Animal Phobia following Öst´s guidelines BEHAVIORAL

In vivo exposure is applied using "one-session treatment" guidelines (Öst, Salkovskis and Hellström, 1991). Exposure is conducted in a single extended session lasting up to 3 hours and implemented individually. The treatment includes participant modelling, in vivo exposure, reinforced practice and cognitive challenge. Treatment in a single session is just a starting point; it is recommended that the participants continue to be exposed to the phobic situations after therapy in their daily lives in order to fully surmount their problems. Participants are informed that the treatment required close collaboration between themselves and the therapist. The exposure session is completed in a gradual and planned way.

Also known as: In vivo exposure in phobic disorders, In vivo exposure for small animal phobia

In Vivo Exposure

Augmented Reality Exposure for Animal Phobia following Öst´s guidelines BEHAVIORAL

Augmented Reality (AR) is a variation of Virtual Reality in which the user sees the real world augmented by various virtual elements; it complements reality rather than replacing it completely (Azuma et al., 2001). The most significant aspect of AR is that the virtual elements add relevant and helpful information to the physical information available in the real world. The system includes the options of changing the number, movement and size of small animals. Preliminary data show the utility of the system for the treatment of insect phobia (Botella et al., 2005). AR exposure is applied in the same way than in vivo exposure, that is, in a gradual, planned and controlled way using "one-session treatment" guidelines (Öst, Salkovskis and Hellström, 1991). The therapist can see what the participant sees in AR on a monitor and observe the same stimuli.

Also known as: Augmented Reality Exposure in phobic disorders, Augmented Reality Exposure for small animal phobia

Augmented Reality Exposure

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Be between 18-65 years of age.
• To meet current DSM-IV-TR criteria for specific phobia (animal type)
• Have as the major presenting complaint anxiety in, and avoidance of, a large range of situations involving spiders or cockroaches.
• A minimum of 1 year duration of the phobia.
• To have scores over 4 in phobic avoidance (on a scale of 0 to 8).
• Express a willingness to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• To be able to put a hand inside the container with a spider or cockroach during the behavioral test.
• Have other psychiatric problem in immediate need of treatment.
• Have psychotic or organic symptoms.
• Have heart or lung disease.
• Current alcohol or drug dependence or medication.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat Jaume I: lead
• University of Valencia: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

University Jaume I

Castellon, Castellon, 12006, Spain

Location

University Jaume I

Castellon, Castellón, 12071, Spain

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Botella C, Breton-Lopez J, Quero S, Banos R, Garcia-Palacios A. Treating cockroach phobia with augmented reality. Behav Ther. 2010 Sep;41(3):401-13. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2009.07.002. Epub 2010 Mar 20.

  PMID: 20569788 BACKGROUND

• Essau CA, Conradt J, Petermann F. Frequency, comorbidity, and psychosocial impairment of specific phobia in adolescents. J Clin Child Psychol. 2000 Jun;29(2):221-31. doi: 10.1207/S15374424jccp2902_8.

  PMID: 10802831 BACKGROUND

• Magee WJ, Eaton WW, Wittchen HU, McGonagle KA, Kessler RC. Agoraphobia, simple phobia, and social phobia in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996 Feb;53(2):159-68. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830020077009.

  PMID: 8629891 BACKGROUND

• Garcia-Palacios A, Botella C, Hoffman H, Fabregat S. Comparing acceptance and refusal rates of virtual reality exposure vs. in vivo exposure by patients with specific phobias. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2007 Oct;10(5):722-4. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9962.

  PMID: 17927544 BACKGROUND

• Garcia-Palacios A, Hoffman HG, See SK, Tsai A, Botella C. Redefining therapeutic success with virtual reality exposure therapy. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2001 Jun;4(3):341-8. doi: 10.1089/109493101300210231.

  PMID: 11710258 BACKGROUND

• Marks IM, Mathews AM. Brief standard self-rating for phobic patients. Behav Res Ther. 1979;17(3):263-7. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(79)90041-x. No abstract available.

  PMID: 526242 BACKGROUND

• Botella CM, Juan MC, Banos RM, Alcaniz M, Guillen V, Rey B. Mixing realities? An application of augmented reality for the treatment of cockroach phobia. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2005 Apr;8(2):162-71. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2005.8.162.

  PMID: 15938656 BACKGROUND

• Juan MC, Alcaniz M, Monserrat C, Botella C, Banos RM, Guerrero B. Using augmented reality to treat phobias. IEEE Comput Graph Appl. 2005 Nov-Dec;25(6):31-7. doi: 10.1109/mcg.2005.143. No abstract available.

  PMID: 16315475 BACKGROUND

• Ost LG. One-session treatment for specific phobias. Behav Res Ther. 1989;27(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(89)90113-7.

  PMID: 2914000 BACKGROUND

• Ost LG. [One-session treatment of specific phobias--a rapid and effective method]. Lakartidningen. 1988 Mar 30;85(13):1139-42. No abstract available. Swedish.

  PMID: 3352391 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Information about our research group
• International research group that focuses on virtual reality and analgesic effects

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Phobic Disorders; Phobia, Specific; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Cristina Botella, Full Professor

  University Jaume I, Castellon, Spain.

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Cristina Botella, Full Professor

  University Jaume I, Castellon, Spain

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 26, 2011
• First Posted: May 26, 2011
• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2011
• Study Completion: January 1, 2013
• Last Updated: December 4, 2015

Record last verified: 2013-09

Locations

ES (2)