Virtual Reality Intervention for Fear of Heights

Acrophobia Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Influence of Music on Response to Virtual Reality-Based Exposure for Acrophobia

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06468878
• Other study ID #: 7179E
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 2024
• Est. completion date: May 2025

Study information

• Verified date: June 2024
• Source: Boston University Charles River Campus
• Contact: Laura J Long, PhD
• Phone: 617-358-4303
• Email: ljlong[@]bu.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for acrophobia (fear of heights) and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present study is designed to evaluate the effects of liked, non-lyrical background music on the efficacy of a brief VR exposure intervention.

Description:

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare acrophobia (fear of heights) outcomes for VR exposure therapy in college students with elevated acrophobia when listening to music during exposure versus no music. The overarching aim of the current study is to determine how liked, non-lyrical background music will influence acrophobia outcomes after a brief exposure therapy session in VR.

The study involves three phases: (1) initial screening, (2) in-person assessment and a brief exposure intervention for a subset of participants with elevated acrophobia, and (3) a one-week follow-up assessment conducted online. Students who choose to participate and screen high on an acrophobia scale will be assigned to an experimental or control condition prior to undergoing VR based exposure therapy. Acrophobia outcomes are measured immediately post-intervention and one week later.

Researchers will compare participants in the music condition to participants in the non-music condition to see if acrophobia outcomes differ.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 44
• Est. completion date: May 2025
• Est. primary completion date: May 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 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: Acrophobia score of = 45.45 on the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ) Anxiety Subscale

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Acrophobia

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Exposure Intervention Plus Music Induction
VR exposure for acrophobia with background music.
• Exposure Intervention With No Music Induction
VR exposure for acrophobia with no background music.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Boston University Charles River Campus

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Acrophobia (Fear of Heights)	Assessed using the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ) Anxiety Subscale	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure
Secondary	Valance	Self-report measure of how participant feels about experiencing high-height environments.	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure
Secondary	Height-Relevant Interpretations	Assessed using the Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ)	Comparison of pre-exposure scores to scores from the follow-up survey one week after exposure