Virtual Reality for Specific Phobia of Vomiting: a SCED, version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
THE EFFECTIVNESS, FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY INTEGRATED INTO COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR EMETOPHOBIA: A SINGLE CASE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
IRAS ID
339771
Contact name
David Veale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, R&D Department
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV) occurs when an individual has a persistent fear of vomiting which is disproportional to the threat or danger posed by such an outcome. It is associated with high mental distress and impact on daily life.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has evidence as an effective treatment for SPOV. Therapists expose people to situations that they fear going from least to worst feared. This might involve exposure to vomit-smelling chemicals, working up to exposure to vomit sounds and sight.
However, leaving the therapy room to do exposures in the public can be difficult with socially anxious patients. Virtual reality (VR) therapy may overcome this challenge and also provide a practical stepping stone to real vomit exposure during CBT. In VR, a person wears a headset and can see a virtual environment. What the person sees and hears can be controlled digitally. Patients with SPOV could use VR to do vomits exposures in a controlled environment.
The effectiveness of VR therapy for SPOV has not been studied before but previous interviews with people with SPOV showed that patients think it could be a helpful addition to CBT.
We aim to test whether VR and CBT could effectively treat 8-10 adults with SPOV and explore their views on its acceptability using focus groups, at an outpatient anxiety clinic at 99 Denmark Hill in SLaM. We will recruit from SLaM IAPT services and the website EmetAction. Participants will complete online or paper mental health symptom questionnaires weekly to assess their progress up to 16 weeks. Results could help inform how VR could be changed to be better used during CBT. This could potentially increase treatment options available for patients with SPOV and other anxiety disorders. David Veale's (CI) personal KCL research budget will fund the study.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0368
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion