Virtual Reality System for Anxiety and OCD
| Status: | Not yet recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 7 - 17 |
| Updated: | 3/1/2019 |
| Start Date: | June 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | November 30, 2021 |
| Contact: | Deanna R Hofschulte, CCRP |
| Email: | hofschulte.deanna@mayo.edu |
| Phone: | 507-255-2972 |
Low-Cost, Virtual Reality System to Increase Access to Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders - Phase II
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with fear provoking exposures is the most effective therapy for
anxiety disorders. The investigators aim to enhance this therapy with the use of virtual
reality exposures. The human subjects study will test the effects of using VR for exposures
compared to traditional imaginal exposures on anxiety symptom improvement, functioning, child
engagement in and response to exposures, completion of exposure homework between treatment
sessions, and length of treatment in weeks and length of treatment among children with
anxiety disorders and/or obsessive compulsive disorder.
The funding award supports the development of the technology and the human subjects study.
The subcontract to Mayo supports expert input to identify clinically relevant content for
therapeutic videos on the VR system and the human subjects study to test the VR system.
anxiety disorders. The investigators aim to enhance this therapy with the use of virtual
reality exposures. The human subjects study will test the effects of using VR for exposures
compared to traditional imaginal exposures on anxiety symptom improvement, functioning, child
engagement in and response to exposures, completion of exposure homework between treatment
sessions, and length of treatment in weeks and length of treatment among children with
anxiety disorders and/or obsessive compulsive disorder.
The funding award supports the development of the technology and the human subjects study.
The subcontract to Mayo supports expert input to identify clinically relevant content for
therapeutic videos on the VR system and the human subjects study to test the VR system.
Seventy children with childhood anxiety disorders (CADs) or obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD) and a parent will be recruited to test the Phase II VR system with a randomized
controlled mixed methods study. Participants will be identified through the Mayo Clinic
Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Clinic (PADC). Participants will be randomly assigned to home
exposure practice with or without the VR system, i.e., intervention or control, respectively.
All participants in the study will participate in an introductory session in which they
complete two exposures related to content from their fear ladder, one with the VR system and
an analogous imaginal exposure. Each family will receive instructions for how to use the Mayo
Clinic Anxiety Coach tablet app to record exposures during home practice. Participants will
then be assigned two weeks of daily exposure homework for both the intervention and control
conditions. Patients randomized to the intervention condition will take home the VR system
for homework completion and participants assigned to control will be instructed to complete
imaginal exposures. Two weeks after the introductory session, all participants will return
for a session in which they complete both types of exposure as well as a third generalization
exposure, i.e., an exposure related to the baseline exposure that is higher on the fear
ladder. SUDS ratings for each type of exposure will be recorded electronically via the Mayo
Clinic Anxiety Coach. During the follow up session, an independent interviewer will observe
participants' engagement during exposures and will interview participants and their parents
about their experience with both types of exposure.
(OCD) and a parent will be recruited to test the Phase II VR system with a randomized
controlled mixed methods study. Participants will be identified through the Mayo Clinic
Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Clinic (PADC). Participants will be randomly assigned to home
exposure practice with or without the VR system, i.e., intervention or control, respectively.
All participants in the study will participate in an introductory session in which they
complete two exposures related to content from their fear ladder, one with the VR system and
an analogous imaginal exposure. Each family will receive instructions for how to use the Mayo
Clinic Anxiety Coach tablet app to record exposures during home practice. Participants will
then be assigned two weeks of daily exposure homework for both the intervention and control
conditions. Patients randomized to the intervention condition will take home the VR system
for homework completion and participants assigned to control will be instructed to complete
imaginal exposures. Two weeks after the introductory session, all participants will return
for a session in which they complete both types of exposure as well as a third generalization
exposure, i.e., an exposure related to the baseline exposure that is higher on the fear
ladder. SUDS ratings for each type of exposure will be recorded electronically via the Mayo
Clinic Anxiety Coach. During the follow up session, an independent interviewer will observe
participants' engagement during exposures and will interview participants and their parents
about their experience with both types of exposure.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age 7 to 17
2. Primary diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. History of and/or current diagnosis of: psychosis, autism, bipolar disorder, mental
retardation, oppositional defiant disorder, PTSD, selective mutism or major depressive
disorder
2. Current suicidality or recent suicidal behavior
3. Parent to be involved in study who is unable to adequately participate due to
intellectual or psychiatric difficulties
4. Starting or changing the dosage of a psychiatric medication in the last 2 months
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