Virtual Reality Exposure Versus In Vivo Exposure for Fear of Heights

NCT04737915 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Interventional
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 114
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study randomly assigned 114 participants with significant fear of heights to one of three conditions: a) a single session of virtual reality exposure; b) a single session of in vivo exposure; or c) a control condition. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of virtual reality exposure to the efficacy of in vivo exposure or no exposure for participants with significant fear of heights.

Conditions

Fear of Heights; Acrophobia; Specific Phobia; Anxiety Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)

  Participants completed the anxiety subscale of the AQ, a 20-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported anxiety related to acrophobia. Scores for the subscale are summed, and totals range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.

  Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)

• Behavioral Approach Task (BAT)

  Participants walked up a staircase until they reach the highest level they can complete, while stopping to look over the ledge toward the floor at each landing. During each BAT, fear response was assessed behaviorally (highest step reached) and subjectively (self reported levels of fear).

  Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)

• Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)

  Participants completed the HIQ, a 16-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported interpretations of an imagined experience of heights. Items are summed scored, and totals ranged from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater height fear-relevant interpretation bias.

  Immediately Post-Treatment (Controlling for Baseline Scores)

• Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)

  Participants completed the anxiety subscale of the AQ, a 20-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported anxiety related to acrophobia. Scores for the subscale are summed, and totals range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.

  1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)

• Behavioral Approach Task (BAT)

  Participants walked up a staircase until they reach the highest level they can complete, while stopping to look over the ledge toward the floor at each landing. During each BAT, fear response was assessed behaviorally (highest step reached) and subjectively (self reported levels of fear).

  1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)

• Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)

  Participants completed the HIQ, a 16-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported interpretations of an imagined experience of heights. Items are summed scored, and totals ranged from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater height fear-relevant interpretation bias.

  1-Week Post-Treatment (Controlling for Immediate Post-Treatment Scores)

Other Outcomes (5)

• Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Treatment; 1 Week Post-Treatment

• Affective Control Scale (ACS) - Anxiety Subscale

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Treatment; 1 Week Post-Treatment

• High Place Phenomenon Index (HPPI)

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Treatment; 1 Week Post-Treatment

Study Arms (3)

Virtual Reality Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a single session of exposure administered via a virtual reality headset. The exposure exercise involved looking over virtual railings into an atrium at various floor levels (the virtual environment was designed to look like the atrium in the in vivo exposure condition). Exposure was conducted in six 6-minute trials for a total of 36 minutes of exposure.

Behavioral: Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality)

In Vivo Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a single session of exposure administered in vivo. The exposure exercise involved looking over actual railings into an atrium at various floor levels. Exposure was conducted in six 6-minute trials for a total of 36 minutes of exposure.

Behavioral: Exposure Therapy (In Vivo)

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants watched a neutral video during the time participants in other conditions were completing the exposure exercise. Participants received no exposure-based intervention.

Interventions

Exposure Therapy (In Vivo) BEHAVIORAL

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a virtual environment.

In Vivo Exposure

Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality) BEHAVIORAL

Participant completes a single session of exposure therapy for fear of heights by looking over railings into an atrium at various floor levels in a real environment.

Virtual Reality Exposure

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Score \>= 45 on the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)

You may not qualify if:

• Already receiving therapy specifically for fear of heights.
• Has any contraindications to using a virtual reality headset.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Notre Dame: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acrophobia; Phobia, Specific; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Implosive Therapy; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Jennifer L Hames, Ph.D.

  University of Notre Dame

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

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: Assistant Clinical Professor & Clinic Director

Model Details: Eligible participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a) single session virtual reality exposure; b) single session in vivo exposure; c) waitlist control

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 28, 2021
• First Posted: February 4, 2021
• Study Start: June 11, 2018
• Primary Completion: March 6, 2019
• Study Completion: March 6, 2019
• Last Updated: February 8, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)