An interventional study of Smartphone application (app) in combination with headset in Specific Phobia, sponsored by University of Otago. Completed at 1 site in New Zealand. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-08-22.
Sponsored by University of Otago · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
85 studies on the registry are indexed under Phobia, Specific; 13 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 126 is above the median of 74 across 81 interventional studies indexed under Phobia, Specific.
Browse Phobia, Specific studies →University of Otago is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Other: Smartphone application (app) in combination with headset
Participants in the waitlist condition will be offered the intervention directly after post-test.
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.
Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult American Psychological Association
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult is a 10-item self-report measure that assesses the severity of specific phobia in individuals age 18 and older. The total score can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater severity of specific phobia.
Time frame: Week 6
Brief Standard Self rating scale for phobic patients
The total score can range from 0 to 8 with higher scores indicating greater severity of specific phobia
Time frame: 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks
Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C)
CGI-C scores range from 1 (very much improved) through to 7 (very much worse)
Time frame: weekly (Weeks 1-6)
Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ 9
PHQ-9 scores range from 1 through to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms
Time frame: 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks
Subjective Units of Distress Scale
Scores range from 1 through to 100 with higher scores indicating higher levels of distress
Time frame: Week 4, 5 and 6
Modified Gatineau Presence Questionnaire First item
Scores range from 1 (very realistic) through to 100 (not very realistic)
Time frame: Week 4, 5 and 6
Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS)
Scores range from zero (no sickness at all) to 20 (frank sickness).
Time frame: Week 4, 5 and 6
Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale
Scores range from 1 through to 60 with higher scores indicating higher fear of negative evaluation
Time frame: 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks
Changes in behaviour that may have been previously avoided because of the phobia
Free text response
Time frame: Weeks 6 and 12
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Otago