Virtual Reality Intervention for Speech Anxiety

NCT06086756 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 7164E
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for speech anxiety and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present study is designed to evaluate whether mood state moderates outcome to a brief VR exposure intervention.

Conditions

Public Speaking; Speech Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Public Speaking Anxiety

  Assessed using the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS)

  Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from post-treatment, approximately 2 week post-screen

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Valence

  Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure

• Social Phobia

  Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure

• Public Speaking Anxiety

  Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from follow up survey, 1 week post-exposure

Study Arms (2)

Positive Mood Induction via positive film clips

EXPERIMENTAL

The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit positive affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes.

Behavioral: Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction

Negative Mood Induction via negative film clips

EXPERIMENTAL

The standardized procedures outlined in our laboratory's previously conducted study (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018) will be followed. Participants will be presented with two brief film clips on a computer monitor or TV screen. These film clips were selected to elicit negative affect. As utilized in past lab study procedures, participants will be asked to: "Let yourself experience whatever emotions you have, as fully as you can. Don't try to hold back, or hold in, your feelings" (Stathopoulou, Pollack, \& Otto, 2018). Together, the two film clips will last for approximately 5 minutes.

Behavioral: Exposure intervention plus negative mood induction

Interventions

Exposure intervention plus positive mood induction BEHAVIORAL

Positive mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Positive Mood Induction via positive film clips

Exposure intervention plus negative mood induction BEHAVIORAL

Negative mood induction followed by a brief VR exposure session for public speaking anxiety.

Negative Mood Induction via negative film clips

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Self-report of 18 years of age or older
• Current student at Boston University
• Ability to read English to provide informed consent
• Familiarity with a computer keyboard and mouse or a touch screen device (e.g. phone, tablet).
• For Phase 2: speech anxiety scale score of ≥ 14 on the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS)

You may not qualify if:

• Previous participation (i.e., no participant may take the survey more than once).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston University Charles River Campus: lead

Study Sites (1)

Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Speech; Glossophobia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Verbal Behavior; Communication; Behavior

Study Officials

• Elias Culver

  Boston University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2023
• First Posted: October 17, 2023
• Study Start: November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 5, 2023
• Study Completion: December 5, 2023
• Last Updated: December 13, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)