oVRcome Self-guided Virtual Reality for Specific Phobias

University of Otago

Status: Completed

Conditions: Specific Phobia

Treatments: Other: Smartphone application (app) in combination with headset

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04909177

oVRcome specific phobia

Details and patient eligibility

About

Specific phobias: fear of flying, heights, spiders, dogs and needles are the extremely common and exposure therapy (ET) is the first line of treatment. Using Virtual Reality (VR), participants will have control in gradual exposure to their fears. oVRcome (https://www.ovrcome.io/ Virtual reality app), is a self-help VRET for specific phobias, that is delivered through a smartphone application (app) in combination with a low cost headset that holds the smartphone and uses 360º video. The investigators hypothesize that oVRcome is effective in reducing specific phobia symptoms.

Enrollment: 126 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria:

• are between 18-64 years old
• Have a fear of flying, heights, spiders, dogs, needles and score above 4 on the Brief Standard Self rating scale for phobic patients (Marks, I. Matthews ,A (1979) Behaviour Research and Therapy)
• have access to a smart phone and internet
• willing to participate in the research study and providing informed consent

Exclusion criteria

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• present with symptoms of severe depression or suicidality respectively as measured with the PHQ-9; total score > 19
• have insufficient knowledge of the English language
• are under current treatment for specific phobia or psychotropic medication (unless on stable dosage for the previous 3 months and no changes planned during the study period).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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126 participants in 2 patient groups

Smartphone application (app) in combination with headset

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention oVRcome is self-help VRET for specific phobia, that is delivered through a smartphone application (app) in combination with headset that holds the smartphone and uses 360º video. oVRcome includes 6 modules of psychoeducation, relaxation, mindfulness, cognitive techniques, exposure through VR, and a relapse prevention module which are aimed to be completed weekly.

Treatment:

Other: Smartphone application (app) in combination with headset

Waitlist

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the waitlist condition will be offered the intervention directly after post-test.