Acrophobia3D-VVRETNCT02584387
3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Study
A study testing 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in people with Acrophobia and Arachnophobia, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study seeks to examine a Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) using the 3D Video Virtual Reality (VR) technology for the fear of spiders. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Acrophobia, Arachnophobia
- What is being tested?
- 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2016to Sep 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- • Between the ages of 18 and 65
- At least one standard deviation above the SONA pool mean on Fear of Spiders Questionnaire or Acrophobia Questionnaire.
Who cannot join
- • Hearing or visually impaired where they cannot use the VRET gear
- Currently (or in the last 3 months) receiving exposure-based treatment for acrophobia or arachnophobia
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, 78712
About this study
Official title: 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (3D-VVRET) Study
This study seeks to examine a Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) using the 3D Video Virtual Reality (VR) technology for the fear of spiders.
Read the detailed description
An estimated 10-11% of the US population experiences a specific phobia at some point in their lives (American Psychiatric Association, 1994; Magee et al., 1996). About 60-85% of those individuals with a specific phobia never seek treatment (Agras, Sylvester, \& Oliveau, 1969; Boyd et al., 1990; Magee et al., 1996). Clinical psychologist can help improve the number of phobia sufferers to seek treatment. Advances in technology are helping clinicians create novel treatment strategies for different anxiety disorders. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) may help these individuals confront their fears and treat their phobia.
While virtual reality exposure therapy has shown promise in research (Powers \& Emmelkamp, 2008), studies have shown that many users complain that the computer generated virtual reality (VR) stimuli looks unrealistic, eccentric and too much like a video game (Kwon, Powell, \& Chalmers, 2013). Virtual reality environments have been traditionally created by programmers using video game assets and computer generated imagery (CGI). While CGI can be used to make intricate virtual environments, unless there is a team of expert digital artists, the virtual stimulus may end up looking rudimentary and exhibit a number of graphical glitches which could prove distracting in therapy. Furthermore CGI often suffers from the uncanny valley effect: the tendency of CGI representations of people to be viewed as unsettling as the representations become more lifelike. In addition the many current CGI virtual reality packages are expensive and only available for limited number of fear domains. Recently however an exciting alternative to traditional computer generated virtual reality has emerged: ortho-stereoscopic 3D Video VR. Ortho-stereoscopic 3D refers to 3D videos that are designed to mimic the natural depth we normally see, as opposed to exaggerating it (i.e. Commercial 3D movies). The benefit of 3D VR as opposed to CGI VR is that it is photo realistic, does not suffer from a uncanny valley effect of CGI, and is able to capture nuances of real life fears that are hard to reproduce with CGI.
- Conditions
- Acrophobia, Arachnophobia
- Being tested
- 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Acrophobia, Arachnophobia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure TherapyBehavioural
The 3D video exposure therapy treatment will be administered using an oculus rift virtual reality headset. The oculus rift is a new, affordable virtual reality headset, which uses two different spherical lenses to induce a sense of stereoscopic 3D. Ortho-stereoscopic 3D refers to 3D videos that are designed to mimic the natural depth we normally see, as opposed to exaggerating it (i.e. Commercial 3D movies). To create these 3D videos, the UT 3D Department shot videos of live spiders using a stereoscopic 3D dual camera rig, which simultaneously shoots footage with two cameras positioned apart from each other in a way that mimics the natural pupillary distance between our right and left eyes. To create a sense of 3D depth, the footage of the right and left cameras is then projected on the two different lenses of the oculus rift, creating a sense of depth to the viewer through retinal disparity.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 3D VVRET | Experimental | Behavioral: 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VVRET)
1 30 minute 3D VRET treatment session for arachnophobia. Receives: Behavioral: 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy |
| Waitlist | No intervention | Participants randomized to the waitlist group will complete all study procedures except the 3D VVRET. After the conclusion of their sessions, these participants will be offered the full 3D-VVRET treatment. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Fear of Spiders Questionnaire
Measured: Pre-treatment and 1 week follow-up
Secondary outcomes (7)
Behavioral Approach Test
Measured: Pre-treatment and Post-treatment
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire
Measured: Pre-treatment
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Measured: Pre-treatment
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3)
Measured: Pre-treatment
Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS)
Measured: Pre-treatment
Disgust Emotion Scale
Measured: Pre-treatment
Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale (DPSS-R)
Measured: Pre-treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Oct 2015 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2016
- Primary completionSep 2019 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2019 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AcrophobiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at Austin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mark B. Powers, University of Texas at Austin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02584387
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2015-08-0008
- Acronym
- 3D-VVRET
- Status last verified
- Oct 2017
- First submitted
- 20 Oct 2015
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2017
- Results posted
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (3D-VVRET) Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02584387
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 3D-VVRET / 2015-08-0008
- Conditions
- Acrophobia, Arachnophobia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at AustinUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2016
- Primary completion
- Sep 2019 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2019 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Oct 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study seeks to examine a Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) using the 3D Video Virtual Reality (VR) technology for the fear of spiders.
Detailed description
An estimated 10-11% of the US population experiences a specific phobia at some point in their lives (American Psychiatric Association, 1994; Magee et al., 1996). About 60-85% of those individuals with a specific phobia never seek treatment (Agras, Sylvester, \& Oliveau, 1969; Boyd et al., 1990; Magee et al., 1996). Clinical psychologist can help improve the number of phobia sufferers to seek treatment. Advances in technology are helping clinicians create novel treatment strategies for different anxiety disorders. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) may help these individuals confront their fears and treat their phobia.
While virtual reality exposure therapy has shown promise in research (Powers \& Emmelkamp, 2008), studies have shown that many users complain that the computer generated virtual reality (VR) stimuli looks unrealistic, eccentric and too much like a video game (Kwon, Powell, \& Chalmers, 2013). Virtual reality environments have been traditionally created by programmers using video game assets and computer generated imagery (CGI). While CGI can be used to make intricate virtual environments, unless there is a team of expert digital artists, the virtual stimulus may end up looking rudimentary and exhibit a number of graphical glitches which could prove distracting in therapy. Furthermore CGI often suffers from the uncanny valley effect: the tendency of CGI representations of people to be viewed as unsettling as the representations become more lifelike. In addition the many current CGI virtual reality packages are expensive and only available for limited number of fear domains. Recently however an exciting alternative to traditional computer generated virtual reality has emerged: ortho-stereoscopic 3D Video VR. Ortho-stereoscopic 3D refers to 3D videos that are designed to mimic the natural depth we normally see, as opposed to exaggerating it (i.e. Commercial 3D movies). The benefit of 3D VR as opposed to CGI VR is that it is photo realistic, does not suffer from a uncanny valley effect of CGI, and is able to capture nuances of real life fears that are hard to reproduce with CGI.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 3D VVRET | Experimental | Behavioral: 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure TherapyBehavioral: 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VVRET) 1 30 minute 3D VRET treatment session for arachnophobia. |
| Waitlist | No intervention | –Participants randomized to the waitlist group will complete all study procedures except the 3D VVRET. After the conclusion of their sessions, these participants will be offered the full 3D-VVRET treatment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- • Between the ages of 18 and 65
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- • Hearing or visually impaired where they cannot use the VRET gear
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure TherapyThe 3D video exposure therapy treatment will be administered using an oculus rift virtual reality headset. The oculus rift is a new, affordable virtual reality headset, which uses two different spherical lenses to induce a sense of stereoscopic 3D. Ortho-stereoscopic 3D refers to 3D videos that are designed to mimic the natural depth we normally see, as opposed to exaggerating it (i.e. Commercial 3D movies). To create these 3D videos, the UT 3D Department shot videos of live spiders using a stereoscopic 3D dual camera rig, which simultaneously shoots footage with two cameras positioned apart from each other in a way that mimics the natural pupillary distance between our right and left eyes. To create a sense of 3D depth, the footage of the right and left cameras is then projected on the two different lenses of the oculus rift, creating a sense of depth to the viewer through retinal disparity. | Behavioural | 3D VVRET |
Primary outcome
Fear of Spiders Questionnaire
Time frame: Pre-treatment and 1 week follow-up
7 secondary outcomes
Behavioral Approach Test
Time frame: Pre-treatment and Post-treatment
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire
Time frame: Pre-treatment
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Pre-treatment
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3)
Time frame: Pre-treatment
Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS)
Time frame: Pre-treatment
Disgust Emotion Scale
Time frame: Pre-treatment
Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale (DPSS-R)
Time frame: Pre-treatment
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2017.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 3D Video Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in people with Acrophobia and Arachnophobia, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (time frame: Pre-treatment and 1 week follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2017.