An interventional study of Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality in Specific Phobias, sponsored by The University of Northampton. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 17 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-28.
Sponsored by The University of Northampton · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to study the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) application in treating phobia. It will also learn about the feasibility and safety of the application for independent use.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the VR EMDR application reduce distress, improve positive cognitions, and decrease avoidance of specific phobias? Can the application help diminish phobia-related bodily sensations and encourage cognitive shifts toward positive beliefs and greater confidence in confronting previously avoided situations? Can the participants independently administer the treatment with minimum assistance?
Participants will:
Visit the site and take the VR EMDR phobia treatment every day for one week. Report their phobia and simulator sickness symptoms through self-report questionnaires or semi-structured interviews.
85 studies on the registry are indexed under Phobia, Specific; 13 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 17 is below the median of 74 across 81 interventional studies indexed under Phobia, Specific.
Browse Phobia, Specific studies →The University of Northampton is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Other: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality
Short form and frequent eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in virtual reality for specific phobia treatment.
Change in Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs)
The Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDs) is a self-reported measure of distress experienced by participants during each virtual reality (VR) EMDR session. Participants will rate their level of distress on a scale from 0 (no distress) to 10 (highest distress). Outcome is measured by the change in SUD score throughout each session and cumulative change from Day 1 to Day 5.
Time frame: Recorded 4 times during each VR EMDR session (first being baseline, and the subsequent three were recorded after each eye movement set in desensitisation phrase) across the 5 consecutive intervention days.
Change in Validity of Cognitions (VoC)
The Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale measures the strength of positive cognitions related to the phobic trigger. Participants will rate how true their preferred positive cognition feels on a scale from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true) during each VR EMDR session. Outcome is measured by change in VoC score throughout each session and cumulative change from Day 1 to Day 5.
Time frame: Recorded 4 times during each VR EMDR session (first being baseline, and the subsequent three were recorded after each eye movement set in installation phrase) across the 5 consecutive intervention days.
Change in IAPT Phobia Scale Score
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Phobia Scale assesses the severity of phobic symptoms in terms of avoidance behaviour. Participants will complete the scale before the intervention (baseline) and immediately after the final session (Day 5). Outcome is measured by the change in IAPT Phobia Scale score from baseline to Day 5 post-intervention. Participants achieved remission if they scored below the threshold of 4 in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Phobia (IAPT) phobia scale.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult is a 10-item measure that assesses the severity of specific phobia in individuals age 18 and older. The measure was designed to be completed by an individual upon receiving a diagnosis of specific phobia (or clinically significant specific phobia symptoms) and thereafter, prior to follow-up visits with the clinician. Each item asks the individual to rate the severity of his or her specific phobia during the past 7 days.
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) Score Change
The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) is used to assess potential side effects of virtual reality exposure, including nausea, oculomotor discomfort, and disorientation. Participants will complete the SSQ at the end of the first and last intervention days. Outcome is measured by the change in total SSQ score between Day 1 and Day 5.
Time frame: Day 1 and Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Adherence
Description: Adherence will be assessed based on the number of sessions completed
Time frame: Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Acceptability
Description: Acceptability will be evaluated using participant feedback collected at the end of the intervention period.
Time frame: Day 5 post-intervention
Plan to share: No — The increased risk of patients being identified.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in May 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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