Application of Virtual Reality Technology to Treatment of Social Anxiety

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder

Treatments: Device: VR; Behavioral: CBT

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06845488

HSC-MS-16-0518

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare CBT VR exposure + VR social skills treatment to CBT Imaginal exposure + mindfulness, in reducing the severity of social anxiety in adults with autism and social anxiety (SA), to identify characteristics associated with benefitting from the CBT-VR treatment and to assess acceptability and feasibility of the VR intervention for patients receiving it and use findings to improve methods and to prepare for a community based pragmatic trial.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (diagnosed by a qualified professional)
• verbal and literate in English or Spanish
• average or greater intellectual ability, based on history and interview
• able to operate a computer (Windows or Mac).

Exclusion criteria

• current or historical severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression
• intellectual disability or a learning disability that would interfere with participating (e.g., unable to read)
• unable use the technology or do not have access to the technology
• unable to read

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual Reality (VR) assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: CBT

Device: VR

CBT alone

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: CBT