EMDR in Spider Phobia: Work Mechanisms and Treatment Outcome

NCT02973919 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: URegensburg
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 53
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to increase the efficiency of exposure in virtual reality (VR). Based on the EMDR research the investigators would like to show that the implementation of eye movements during the VR exposure results in a faster physiological relaxation response among probands with spider phobia, which has a positive effect on the subjective and behavioral efficacy of the VR exposure.

Conditions

Spider Phobia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Behavioral Assessment Test (BAT) in vivo

  expected fear just before getting started and actually present fear just before finishing

  5 minutes before, 5 minutes after intervention and during folow up (2 weeks post Intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Skin Conductance Reactivity (SCR)

  during the VR-session

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

  during the VR-session

• manipulation check electrode below the right eye (M. orbicularis oculi)

  during the VR- exposure sessions (5 min x 4 sessions)

• Change in Subjective Fear Ratings

  1 min before and during ( each minute) exposure in Virtual Reality

Study Arms (2)

Eye movements

EXPERIMENTAL

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy + virtual reality exposure therapy

Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy; Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

virtual reality exposure therapy

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Interventions

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy BEHAVIORAL

In 1989, Shapiro discovered that while talking about negative life events or thoughts, rhythmic eye movements on a horizontal axis can alleviate the associated vividness and burden (Shapiro, 1989). She established the psychodynamic-behavioral Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, which includes the induction of rhythmic eye movements as a central feature. EMDR is regarded as an efficient treatment tool. Several times it has also been successfully applied in the field of specific phobias (de Jongh, ten Broeke, \& Renssen, 1999; de Jongh, Holmshaw, Carswell, \& van Wijk, 2011; Lapsekili \& Yelboga, 2014; Muris, Merckelbach, van Haaften, \& Mayer, 1997) and there is a standard protocol for using EMDR on specific fears and phobias (de Jongh, 2015).

Eye movements

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Exposure to fear-evoking stimuli is conducted more often in virtual environments using simulators or similar computer-technologies (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, VRET). One great advantage of using VR-technologies is that it is possible to create an environment which is highly controllable by its creators. Feared stimuli or scenarios can be varied on individual purposes and presented several times. This facili- tates the practice of exposure-based treatments especially for situations or places diffi- cult to access or requiring a considerable amount of time and/or money (e.g. being in war zones or a passenger on a flight), where in vivo exposures have often not been con- ducted or only in a limited manner (Mühlberger \& Pauli, 2011).

Control; Eye movements

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID, First et al., 2002; applied German translation: Strukturiertes Klinisches Interview für DSM-IV, Achse I, SKID I, Wittchen et al., 1997), in order to get a reliable diagnosis of spider phobia

You may not qualify if:

• pregnancy
• current psychopharmacological medication
• current involvement in psychiatric- or psychotherapeutic treatment
• cardiovascular or neurological diseases
• color blindness
• hearing disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Regensburg: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Arachnophobia

Interventions

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2016
• First Posted: November 28, 2016
• Study Start: July 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2015
• Study Completion: September 1, 2016
• Last Updated: November 28, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share