NCT03885414

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Public Speaking Anxiety

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Public Speaking Anxiety: A Multiple-baseline Effectiveness Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 23 (actual)
• Sponsor: Stockholm University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Virtual Reality exposure therapy (VRET) is an efficacious treatment for anxiety disorders but has yet to be implemented in regular care settings. This is arguably due to the limitations of the past generation of VR technology, which was expensive, inaccessible, cumbersome and hard to use. With the advent of consumer VR technology, VRET is now ready for implementation in regular care. This multiple-baseline trial will examine the effectiveness of VRET for public speaking anxiety (PSA) when delivered under real-world conditions at an ordinary, non-specialized mental health clinic, by clinical psychologist with only brief VRET training. Participants will either be self-referred specifically for this treatment, or come through ordinary clinical channels. Self-rated PSA will serve as primary outcome measure and will be measured three times prior to treatment (at screening and twice after a diagnostic screening telephone interview) , four times after onset, at the end of the treatment period, and three months after treatment.

Conditions

• Public Speaking
• Social Anxiety
• Social Anxiety Disorder, Performance Only

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	In-session Virtual Reality exposure therapy	A series of exposure exercises (speech exercises) in front of a virtual audience, focusing on promoting inhibitory learning, with audio-feedback.
BEHAVIORAL	Internet-administered transition program	Four-module internet program with weekly therapist guidance, focusing on transitioning to in-vivo exposure in everyday settings.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-01-14
• Primary completion: 2019-09-30
• Completion: 2019-09-30
• First posted: 2019-03-21
• Last updated: 2020-01-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden