oVRcome - Self Guided Virtual Reality for Social Anxiety Disorder

Last updated: April 6, 2025
Sponsor: University of Otago
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

N/A

Condition

Anxiety Disorders

Panic Disorders

Social Phobia

Treatment

oVRcome phone app with headset

Clinical Study ID

NCT05576259
oVRcome social anxiety 1.2
  • Ages 18-64
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Social anxiety is characterised by excessive fear of being negatively judged, embarrassed or humiliated during social interactions and is common with a lifetime prevalence of 12.1%. Cognitive behavioural therapy is the first line of treatment, but people may not seek treatment due to a number of factors including the discomfort experienced in seeking help, inconvenience, and the experience of psychotherapy itself. With Virtual Reality (VR), users can have increased control in how gradually they expose themselves to social situations. In studies of VR in people with specific phobias, 76% of people prefer VR exposure to in vivo exposure. There is emerging evidence for the use of VR in social phobia.

oVRcome, is a self-help VRET for social anxiety symptoms and specific phobias, that is delivered through a smartphone application (app) in combination with a low cost headset that holds the smartphone and uses 360º video.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the oVRcome social anxiety program for social anxiety symptoms. We hypothesize that oVRcome will reduce social anxiety symptom severity over a 6-week treatment period compared to waiting-list control

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • are between 18-64 years old

  • have moderate (or higher) social anxiety disorder symptoms on Liebowitz socialanxiety scale (>60)

  • have access to a smart phone and internet

  • willing to participate in the research study and providing informed consent

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • present with symptoms of severe depression or suicidality respectively as measuredwith the PHQ-9; total score > 19, =3 on suicidality item

  • have insufficient knowledge of the English language

  • are under current treatment for social phobia or psychotropic medication (unless onstable dosage for the previous 3 months and no changes planned during the studyperiod).

Study Design

Total Participants: 100
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: oVRcome phone app with headset
Phase:
Study Start date:
October 08, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
November 01, 2023

Connect with a study center

  • University of Otago

    Christchurch, 8001
    New Zealand

    Site Not Available

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