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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01442805

Use of Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Flying Phobia

The project aims to explore the potential of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for the treatment of the fear of driving, the fear of flying and the fear of public speaking.

The study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to compare the efficiency of cognitive behavioural therapy with exposures in imagination to behavioural therapy with exposures in virtual reality. Anxiety levels are measured using specific questionnaires, SUD ratings and physiological measures (heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, breathing frequency, heart rate variability).

Hypothesis: Treatments with exposures in virtual reality are more efficient than treatments with exposures in imagination.

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Key information

Conditions

Flying Phobia Aerophobia

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé

Strassen, L-1445, Luxembourg

About this study

In the past, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy in the treatment of flying phobia and driving phobia. As an objective tool, psychophysiological recordings help demonstrate the decrease of physiological aspects of anxiety reactions (heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, heart rate variability and breathing pattern).

The aim of the present study is to examine the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy with exposures in imagination to behavioural therapy with exposures in virtual reality in the treatment of patients with flying phobia. Thirty patients will be randomized into either an imagination exposure group or a virtual reality exposure group after having received four sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy for coping with panic attacks. Respective exposure therapies consist in four sessions.

Anxiety levels will be measured before and after the cognitive behavioural therapy for coping with panic attacks as well as before and after the exposure therapy sessions and after 3 months using specific questionnaires, SUD ratings and psychophysiological measures (heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, breathing frequency and heart rate variability). The exposure stimuli will consist in a 10min movie of a flight with an insight-cabin viewing perspective.

The investigators hypothesize that virtual reality exposure therapies will be more effective than imagination exposure therapy in terms of decrease of anxiety self-ratings and psychophysiological fear reactions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed diagnosis of a specific phobia (DSM-IV-TR)

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women
  • Subjects with severe pulmonary / cardiovascular problems; Asthma, epilepsy, vertigo
  • Drug abuse
  • Subjects under on-stabilized anti-depressant treatment
  • Psychotic subjects
  • Subjects with suicidal ideas
  • Subjects presenting insufficient intellectual capabilities

Treatment and study plan

virtual reality exposure therapy

Behavioral

Participants are exposed to the feared situation (flying) through the virtual reality technology

Exposure Therapy through Imagination

Behavioral

Participants are exposed to the feared situation (flying) through exposure technique of imagination.

Primary outcomes

  1. Flight taken

    Time frame: 6 months

    Participants are expected to take a real flight

Secondary outcomes

  1. Physiological Measures

    Time frame: 6 months

    Heart Rate, Breathing frequency, Skin conductance, Skin Temperature, Heart Rate Variability

  2. Specific Questionnaires

    Time frame: 6 months

    Specific Questionnaires: SUD, Motivational Scale, Fear Questionnaire Marks 1979, Sheehan Disability Scale, STAI I & II, BDI, BAI, GAF, Flight Anxiety Situations Questionnaire FAS, Flight Anxiety Modality Questionnaire FAM

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Luxembourg Institute of Health

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Centre Hospitalier du Luxembourg

Registry information

Official study title

Etude contrôlée Des Effets de la réalité Virtuelle Sur Les symptômes et Les paramètres Physiologiques de Certaines Phobies spécifiques

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2012
First posted
Sep 29, 2011
Registry last updated
Mar 15, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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