Automated app-based augmented reality cognitive behavioral therapy for spider phobia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
PLoS ONE, vol. 17, pp. e0271175
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fear of spiders, or Arachnophobia, is one of the most common specific phobias. The gold standard treatment, in vivo exposure therapy, is effective, but comes with significant limitations, including restricted availability, high costs, and high refusal rates. Novel technologies, such as augmented reality, may help to overcome these limitations and make Exposure Therapy more accessible by using mobile devices. OBJECTIVE: This study will use a Randomized Controlled Trial design to investigate whether ZeroPhobia: Arachnophobia, a 6-week Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy smartphone self-help application, can effectively reduce spider phobia symptoms. Additionally, we will examine user-friendliness of the application and the effect of usage intensity and presence on treatment outcome. METHODS: This study is registered in the Netherlands Trial Registry under NL70238.029.19 (Trial NL9221). Ethical approval was received on October 11, 2019. One-hundred-twelve participants (age 18-64, score ≥ 59) on the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire [FSQ] will be recruited from the general Dutch population and randomly assigned to a treatment or waitlist control group. The ZeroPhobia application can be accessed on users' smartphone. Baseline, post-test (i.e., at six weeks), 3- and 12-month follow-up assessments will be done, each including the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire as the main outcome measure as well as additional measures of anxiety, depression, user-friendliness, and presence as secondary measures and covariates. RESULTS: The study was funded on September 25, 2018. Data collection started in September 2021 and the study is expected to run until September 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will improve our understanding of the efficacy and feasibility of providing Exposure Therapy for spider phobia using an Augmented Reality self-help application, with the intention of making mental health care more accessible.
Authors 7
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Amsterdam Public Health · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Amsterdam Public Health · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics (ACLA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Education Sciences, Section Methods and Statistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics (ACLA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Education Sciences, Section Methods and Statistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Amsterdam Public Health · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Tara Donker corresponding
University of Freiburg · Amsterdam Public Health · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Biological and Personality Psychology, Albert Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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