Virtual reality exposure therapy for adolescents with fear of public speaking: a non-randomized feasibility and pilot study

• Main Authors: Smiti Kahlon (Author), Philip Lindner (Author), Tine Nordgreen (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2019-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s13034-019-0307-y; 1753-2000
• Keywords: Virtual reality; Virtual reality exposure therapy; Public Speaking Anxiety; Cognitive behavior therapy; Adolescents; Inhibitory learning; Pediatrics; RJ1-570; Psychiatry; RC435-571
• Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2019)

Abstract Background Public Speaking Anxiety (PSA) is a common anxiety with onset in adolescence and early adulthood. With the advent of consumer virtual reality (VR) technology, VR-delivered exposure therapy is now a scalable and practical treatment option and has previously been shown to be efficacious with adults. In this non-randomized feasibility and pilot trial, we explore the effect of one-session (90 min) VR-delivered exposure therapy for adolescents (aged 13-16) with PSA. Methods A total of 27 adolescents were recruited from Norwegian high schools and completed self-report measures of PSA twice prior to treatment, 1 week after treatment, and at 1 and 3 month follow-up. Heart rate was recorded during the treatment session. A low-cost head-mounted VR display with a custom-built VR stimuli material depicting a cultural and age appropriate classroom and audience were used when a series of speech (exposure exercises) were performed. Results Linear mixed effects model revealed a significant decrease in PSA symptoms (Cohen's d = 1.53) pre-post treatment, and improvements were maintained at follow-ups. Physiological data revealed a small increase in heart rate during exposure tasks. Based on feedback from the adolescents, the feasibility of the intervention was increased during the trial. Conclusions The results show that low-cost, consumer VR hardware can be used to deliver efficacious treatment for PSA in adolescents, in a feasible one-session format.