A virtual reality app to reduce common phobias has been designed and tested, with promising results. The trial was conducted by researchers from the University of Otago and it looked at phobia patients using a headset and a smartphone app treatment programme.
This involved a combination of Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree video exposure therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The types of phobias that the app may aid include fear of flying, needles, heights, spiders and dogs.
For the trial, 129 subjects downloaded a fully self-guided smartphone app called “oVRcome”. The app was used with a headset so that each subject became immersed within a virtual environment.
The app was based on “exposure therapy,” which is a form of CBT that exposes participants to specific phobias in short bursts, in order to build up their tolerance to the phobia in a clinically-approved and controlled way.
The app programme used psychoeducation, relaxation, mindfulness, cognitive techniques, exposure through VR.
The data showed a 75 per cent reduction in phobia symptoms after six weeks of the treatment programme. The participants were aged between 18-64 years and they compiled weekly questionnaires to record their progress.
Improvements were assessed using the Severity Measures for Specific Phobia scale over the course of the trial. The average severity score decreased from 28/40 (moderate to severe symptoms) to 7/40 (minimal symptoms) after six weeks. There were no participant withdrawals due to intervention-related adverse events.
Commenting on the study, Associate Professor Cameron Lacey, who led the research, says: “The improvements they reported suggests there’s great potential for the use of VR and mobile phone apps as a means of self-guided treatment for people struggling with often-crippling phobias.”
Outlining the advantages, Lacey continues: “Participants demonstrated a strong acceptability of the app, highlighting its potential for delivering easily accessible, cost-effective treatment at scale, of particular use for those unable to access in-person exposure therapy to treat their phobias.”
The research appears in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, titled “oVRcome – Self-guided virtual reality for specific phobias: A randomised controlled trial.”
