基于应用程序的自动化增强现实认知行为疗法治疗蜘蛛恐惧症：一项随机对照试验研究方案。

Automated app-based augmented reality cognitive behavioral therapy for spider phobia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

机构信息

Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

出版信息

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 13;17(7):e0271175. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271175. eCollection 2022.

DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0271175

PMID:35830423

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9278761/

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.

摘要

背景

对蜘蛛的恐惧，即蜘蛛恐惧症，是最常见的特定恐惧症之一。金标准治疗方法，即暴露疗法，是有效的，但存在显著的局限性，包括可用性有限、成本高和高拒绝率。新型技术，如增强现实技术，可以帮助克服这些局限性，并通过使用移动设备使暴露疗法更易获得。

目的

本研究将采用随机对照试验设计，研究 ZeroPhobia：Arachnophobia，一种 6 周的增强现实暴露疗法智能手机自助应用程序，是否能有效减轻蜘蛛恐惧症症状。此外，我们将研究应用程序的用户友好性以及使用强度和存在感对治疗结果的影响。

方法

本研究在荷兰试验注册处注册，注册号为 NL70238.029.19（试验 NL9221）。于 2019 年 10 月 11 日获得伦理批准。将从荷兰普通人群中招募 122 名（年龄 18-64 岁，FSQ 得分≥59）Fear of Spiders Questionnaire [FSQ] 的参与者，并随机分配到治疗组或等待名单对照组。ZeroPhobia 应用程序可以在用户的智能手机上使用。基线、后测（即 6 周时）、3 个月和 12 个月的随访评估将进行，每个评估都包括 Fear of Spiders Questionnaire 作为主要结果测量指标，以及焦虑、抑郁、用户友好性和存在感等作为次要结果测量指标和协变量。