Specific PhobiasNCT06906770
Virtual Reality-based Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy for Specific Phobias
A study testing Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality in people with Specific Phobias, run by The University of Northampton at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Specific Phobias
- What is being tested?
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 28 Apr 2025to 2 May 2025
- 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 17 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Have a specific phobia (not necessarily clinically significant)
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of mental health disorders
- History of trauma associated with their phobia
- History of panic attacks associated with their phobia
- History of psychosis
- Current self-harm
- Current suicidal ideation
Show all 10Show fewer
- Regular use of substances that might affect mental state
- Regular use of medications that might affect mental state
- Significant visual impairments
- Severe motion sickness
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
University of Northampton
Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 5PH
About this study
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:
Read more
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.
- Conditions
- Specific Phobias
- Being tested
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality
- Keywords
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Virtual Reality
- Medical subject headings
- Phobia, Specific
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual realityOther
Short form and frequent eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in virtual reality for specific phobia treatment.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| VR EMDR | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).
Secondary outcomes (3)
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.
Measured: Day 1 and Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Adherence
Description: Adherence will be assessed based on the number of sessions completed
Measured: Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Acceptability
Description: Acceptability will be evaluated using participant feedback collected at the end of the intervention period.
Measured: Day 5 post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Apr 2025
- Study start28 Apr 2025
- Primary completion2 May 2025
- Study completion2 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Specific PhobiasStudies 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Northampton
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- St Andrew's Healthcare
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06906770
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FHSHEA000372
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 28 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The increased risk of patients being identified.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Virtual Reality-based Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy for Specific Phobias
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06906770
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FHSHEA000372
- Conditions
- Specific Phobias
- Keywords
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Virtual Reality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of NorthamptonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- St Andrew's Healthcare
- Study start
- 28 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Apr 2025 (actual)
- 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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| VR EMDR | Experimental | Other: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Have a specific phobia (not necessarily clinically significant)
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Diagnosis of mental health disorders
- History of trauma associated with their phobia
- History of panic attacks associated with their phobia
- History of psychosis
- Current self-harm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual realityShort form and frequent eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in virtual reality for specific phobia treatment. | Other | VR EMDR |
Primary outcome
Change in Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs)
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.
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.
Change in Validity of Cognitions (VoC)
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.
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.
Change in IAPT Phobia Scale Score
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).
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.
The Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult
Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and post-intervention (Day 5).
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.
3 secondary outcomes
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) Score Change
Time frame: Day 1 and Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Adherence
Time frame: Day 5 post-intervention.
Participant Acceptability
Time frame: Day 5 post-intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 May 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The increased risk of patients being identified.
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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 Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing phobia treatment in virtual reality in people with Specific Phobias, run by The University of Northampton at 1 site in United Kingdom.
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 1 inclusion and 10 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 May 2025. 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 Kingdom. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs) (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.). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. 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 28 May 2025.