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Virtual Reality Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Michelle G. Newman, Ph.D.
Research Sponsored by Penn State University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Currently not receiving treatment from a mental health professional
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline, 6-month post-randomization
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial is testing whether virtual reality videos can help people with social anxiety disorder overcome their phobias by providing a controlled environment to practice social behaviors.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults proficient in English with social anxiety disorder who are not currently under mental health treatment. Participants must be either students at Pennsylvania State University or community-dwelling adults interested in the study, and willing to seek treatment.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The trial tests if virtual reality exposure therapy using Pico Goblin VR headsets can help people with social anxiety by simulating social interactions. It compares this method against a waitlist control group to see if it's effective immediately and maintains benefits after 3-6 months.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
While not explicitly listed, potential side effects may include discomfort from wearing the VR headset, dizziness or nausea due to motion sickness from VR use, and possible temporary increase in anxiety symptoms.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I am not currently seeing a mental health professional.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline, 6-month-post-randomization
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, 6-month-post-randomization for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Change from Baseline Job Interview Anxiety at 2-8-week-post-randomization
Change from Baseline Job Interview Anxiety at 3-month post-randomization
Change from Baseline Job Interview Anxiety at 6-month post-randomization
+3 more
Secondary outcome measures
Change from Baseline Depression Symptom Severity at 2-8-week-post-randomization
Mental Depression
Change from Baseline Depression Symptom Severity at 6-month-post-randomization
+3 more
Other outcome measures
Mental health disorder screening measures
Process measures
Treatment acceptability

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Virtual reality exposure therapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants were allowed to choose one of two themes. For both themes, each scene was developed to be more anxiety-provoking as the VRE progressed. Greater anxiety-inducing scenes had interviewers and other actors who displayed less compassionate, friendly, humorous, and pleasant verbal and non-verbal behaviors and demeanors to elicit elevated anxiety (Carless & Imber, 2007). Also, a virtual therapist was embedded within the VRE. It functioned to coach the participant through each distinct scene by orienting and prompting them to the exposure therapy task(s), continually conveying core principles of exposure therapy, and repeating the instructions if the participant was not responsive within five seconds. Each scene started with a paused video, during which participants were oriented by the virtual therapist to the context.
Group II: Waiting listActive Control1 Intervention
Participants started treatment 2-4 weeks post-randomization.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Penn State UniversityLead Sponsor
355 Previous Clinical Trials
125,713 Total Patients Enrolled
Limbix Health, Inc.Industry Sponsor
7 Previous Clinical Trials
684 Total Patients Enrolled
Michelle G. Newman, Ph.D.Principal Investigator - The Pennsylvania State University
Penn State University

Media Library

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Scripts Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04850989 — N/A
Social Anxiety Disorder Research Study Groups: Virtual reality exposure therapy, Waiting list
Social Anxiety Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Scripts Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04850989 — N/A
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Scripts 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04850989 — N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What are the primary intentions of this medical experiment?

"Limbix Health, Inc., the trial sponsor, lists their primary outcome as Change from Baseline Job Interview Anxiety at 3-month post-randomization. Additionally, secondary outcomes to be measured include Change from Baseline Depression Symptom Severity and Trait Worry Symptom Severity both at 3 and 6 months following randomization. These evaluations are assessed with self-reported Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9) or Penn State Worry Questionnaires (PSWQ)."

Answered by AI

How many participants are included in this research project?

"Affirmative. The information hosted on clinicaltrials.gov indicates that this medical trial is actively searching for participants; the original post was on December 18th 2018, with an update occurring April 18th 2022. 44 patients are sought from a single facility."

Answered by AI

Are there still opportunities for potential participants to join this clinical investigation?

"Affirmative. The information present on clinicaltrials.gov implies that this medical study is currently seeking participants. This research endeavour, which has been documented since the 18th of December 2018, needs 44 individuals from a single site for completion."

Answered by AI

Who else is applying?

What state do they live in?
Nebraska
Texas
Pennsylvania
What portion of applicants met pre-screening criteria?
Did not meet criteria
Met criteria
How many prior treatments have patients received?
0
What site did they apply to?
The Pennsylvania State University
Recent research and studies
clinicaltrials.govStudy
Efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Scripts for Social Phobia
Michelle G. Newman 2018. "Efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Scripts for Social Phobia". ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04850989.
All > Social Anxiety Disorder
~10 spots leftby Dec 2025
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