Efficacy of a VR Paradigm to Reduce Fear of Heights in a Clinical and Subclinical Population With Fear of Heights — VRAP-Basel  

Fear of Heights Clinical Trial

Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Paradigm to Reduce Fear of Heights in a Clinical and Subclinical Population With Fear of Heights

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Investigation of the effectiveness and acceptability and usability of a VR height exposure App in individuals with fear of heights.

Clinical Trial Description

The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled between subject trial. The study consists of two study phases. In study phase 1 the experimental group takes part in three VR exposure sessions (duration 20min each), whereas the control group takes part in three virtual tours (duration 20min each). All VR sessions and assessments of outcomes will be conducted on one study day for each participant.

In study phase 2 the experimental group will participate in a home training, spanning over two weeks (6x30-minutes sessions), whereas the control group will not receive any treatment (untreated comparison group). Assessment of outcomes will be conducted 3-5 weeks after completion of home trainings.

Group 1 (experimental group) consists of individuals with clinical and subclinical fear of heights, that will receive a three-session VR exposure (study phase 1) and take part in a 2-week treatment period with the same VR scenarios (study phase 2). Group 2 (control group) consists of individuals with clinical and subclinical fear of heights that will not receive any active treatment, but will participate in fear-unrelated tasks in study phase 1 or receive no treatment at all (study phase 2).

This design allows a direct comparison and therefore an estimation of the effectiveness of the VR exposure therapy. Before and after the virtual exposure/tours participants will undergo an in vivo BAT to assess the effects of the VR exposure therapy.

80 participants between 18 and 60 years with clinical or subclinical fear of heights will take part in the study. Two to three months after having finished study phase 1 the participants will be contacted again and asked to take part in study phase 2. All participants undergo a third in vivo BAT during study phase 2. The BAT will take place 3-5 weeks after completion of the home training. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fear of Heights

• NCT number: NCT04003753
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Basel
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 16, 2018
• Completion date: May 24, 2019