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THURSDAY, July 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Automated virtual reality (VR) treatments can alleviate fear of heights, according to a study published online July 11 in The Lancet Psychiatry<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Daniel Freeman, Ph.D., from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial of automated VR versus usual care in adults aged older than 18 years with a fear of heights. One hundred participants were randomized to either automated VR delivery in roughly six 30-minute sessions administered two to three times per week over a two-week period (49 participants) or to usual care (51 participants). Three fear-of-height assessments were conducted at baseline, end of treatment (two weeks), and follow-up (four weeks).<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the VR treatment reduced fear of heights at the end of treatment compared with the control groups (mean change score on the Heights Interpretation Questionnaire: \u221224.5 versus \u22121.2; adjusted difference, \u221224.0). The benefit was maintained at follow-up (mean change score, \u221225.1 versus \u22121.5; adjusted difference, \u221224.3). To at least halve the fear of heights, the number needed to treat was 1.3; there were no reports of adverse events.<\/p>\n
“Psychological therapy delivered automatically by a VR coach can produce large clinical benefits,” the authors write. “Evidence-based VR treatments have the potential to greatly increase treatment provision for mental health disorders.”<\/p>\n
Several authors disclosed financial ties to Oxford VR and Virtual Bodyworks. Oxford VR contributed funding to the study.<\/p>\n
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