Multisite Virtual Reality Intervention for Speech Anxiety

NCT06593847 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 7565E
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,542
• Locations: 5 countries
• Sites: 13

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 multicenter study (conducted through the Exposure Therapy Consortium) is designed to evaluate whether trait versus state positive affectivity is a more effective predictor of exposure therapy outcomes. Further, the investigators will examine whether the predictive significance of trait positive affectivity can be accounted for by examination of baseline levels of self-efficacy, hope, and optimism.

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). Scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores associated with higher public speaking anxiety.

  One week follow-up assessment

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Valence

  One week follow-up assessment

• Assessed using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

  One week follow-up assessment

• Public Speaking Anxiety

  Post-treatment assessment immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (1)

Positive or Negative Mood Induction via film clips

OTHER

VR exposure is the only intervention, but the VR intervention is conducted following either positive or negative mood induction.

Behavioral: Single-session VR exposure intervention

Interventions

Single-session VR exposure intervention BEHAVIORAL

VR exposure is the only intervention, but the VR intervention is conducted following either positive or negative mood induction.

Positive or Negative Mood Induction via film clips

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Self-report of 18 - 70 years of age
• Current student at a participating 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 ≥ 18 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
• University of Texas at Austin: collaborator
• Curtin University: collaborator
• Erasmus University Rotterdam: collaborator
• National University of Singapore: collaborator
• Southern Illinois University: collaborator
• Tufts University: collaborator
• The University of New South Wales: collaborator
• University of Western Sydney: collaborator
• University of Arizona: collaborator
• The University of Hong Kong: collaborator
• Philipps Universität Marburg: collaborator
• Albright College: collaborator
• Utrecht University: collaborator

Study Sites (13)

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, 85721, United States

Location

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, United States

Location

Tufts University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02155, United States

Location

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Albright College

Reading, Pennsylvania, 19604, United States

Location

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, 78712, United States

Location

Western Sydney University

Penrith, New South Wales, 2751, Australia

Location

University of New South Wales

Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

Location

Curtin University

Bently, Western Australia, 6102, Australia

Location

University of Hong Kong

Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China

Location

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Marburg, Hesse, 35037, Germany

Location

Erasmus University

Rotterdam, South Holland, 3062 PA, Netherlands

Location

Utrecht University

Utrecht, 3584 CS, Netherlands

Location

Related Links

• Exposure Therapy Consortium

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Speech; Glossophobia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Verbal Behavior; Communication; Behavior

Study Officials

• Michael Otto, PhD

  Boston University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Participants are blind to the study hypothesis and outcomes are assessed by participant self-report.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Single session VR-based exposure therapy

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2024
• First Posted: September 19, 2024
• Study Start: October 8, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 23, 2025
• Study Completion: July 23, 2025
• Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Within one year of study completion.
• Access Criteria: Via request to the Exposure Therapy Consortium

Locations

AU (3); CN (1); US (6); DE (1); NL (2)