Exercise and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Acrophobia

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fear of Heights

Treatments: Behavioral: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02361203

2014-12-0037

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether aerobic exercise can enhance the effects of exposure therapy treatment for fear of heights.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 25
• Speaks English fluently
• Score of 80 or higher on the Acrophobia Questionnaire
• SUDS rating of 50 or higher on the Behavioral Avoidance Test or complete refusal to comply with instructions due to intensity of fear
• Passes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus

Exclusion criteria

• Hearing or visually impaired
• Currently receiving exposure-based treatment for acrophobia
• Able to remain on floor 20 for 30 seconds during BAT with a SUDS rating < 50

Trial design

60 participants in 2 patient groups

No Exercise

No Intervention group

Exercise Pre

Experimental group

Description:

30 minutes of aerobic exercise before exposure therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise