Virtual reality intervention for anxiety in children with ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reducing anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders through virtual reality environments
IRAS ID
148085
Contact name
Jeremy Parr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Anxiety affects half of young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Specific phobias/fears are the most common anxiety subtypes in ASD and cause significant problems for children’s education and daily life. Phobias/fears mean many children with ASD, siblings and parents cannot participate in everyday activities, as they avoid situations that might lead to distress.
For children without ASD, NHS therapy for fears/phobias includes gradual exposure alongside cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).Children with ASD require adaptations to this, because they have difficulties imagining situations, and recognising and describing feelings. Where children have difficulties with imagination, a virtual reality environment (VRE) can be used, comprising a realistic individualised computer generated scene/scenario projected onto the walls of a room, making the young person feel ‘present’ in the specific situation related to their phobia/fear.
Our VRE development study (2012-2013) included designing a VRE scenario for each child, who also received therapist coaching in relaxation and coping strategies during sessions.
Eight of nine children with ASD recruited from a volunteer database, aged 8-14 years with specific phobia/fear showed real life functional improvements after four 20-30 minute VRE sessions (Maskey et al., 2014).
To evaluate the utility of the treatment in the NHS, we now want to explore the use of this intervention with 32 children recruited from NHS clinical services. Half of those recruited will receive immediate treatment and half will join a delayed treatment group and receive treatment six months after baseline measures. We will investigate the characteristics of children who respond, and those who don’t. Children will receive initial therapy technique training/coaching from a local NHS professional (e.g. relaxation, coping self-statements). The VRE scene depicting their specific fear/phobia (e.g. crossing high bridges) will be created, and each child will receive four VRE sessions; short and medium term outcomes will be monitored. Our development study raised no ethical challenges.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1177
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion