Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial

Abstract Smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) applications (apps) might help to counter low utilization rates of available treatments for fear of heights. Demonstration of effectiveness in real-life situations of such apps is crucial, but lacking so far. Objective of this study was to develop a sta...

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Autores principales:	Dorothée Bentz, Nan Wang, Merle K. Ibach, Nathalie S. Schicktanz, Anja Zimmer, Andreas Papassotiropoulos, Dominique J. F. de Quervain
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics R858-859.7
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/df946755b8aa43f58ccccc6fe3e2ff24
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:df946755b8aa43f58ccccc6fe3e2ff242021-12-02T14:23:50ZEffectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial10.1038/s41746-021-00387-72398-6352https://doaj.org/article/df946755b8aa43f58ccccc6fe3e2ff242021-02-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-021-00387-7https://doaj.org/toc/2398-6352Abstract Smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) applications (apps) might help to counter low utilization rates of available treatments for fear of heights. Demonstration of effectiveness in real-life situations of such apps is crucial, but lacking so far. Objective of this study was to develop a stand-alone, smartphone-based VR exposure app—Easy Heights—and to test its effectiveness in a real-life situation. We performed a single-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. We recruited 70 participants with fear of heights, aged 18–60 years. Primary outcome was performance in a real-life Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT) on a lookout tower after a single 1-h app use (phase 1) and after additional repeated (6 × 30 min) app use at home (phase 2). After phase 2, but not phase 1, participants in the Easy Heights condition showed significantly higher BAT scores compared to participants in the control condition (Cohen’s d = 1.3, p = 0.0001). Repeated use of our stand-alone, smartphone-based VR exposure app reduces avoidance behavior and fear, providing a low-threshold treatment for fear of heights.Dorothée BentzNan WangMerle K. IbachNathalie S. SchicktanzAnja ZimmerAndreas PapassotiropoulosDominique J. F. de QuervainNature PortfolioarticleComputer applications to medicine. Medical informaticsR858-859.7ENnpj Digital Medicine, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics R858-859.7
spellingShingle	Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics R858-859.7 Dorothée Bentz Nan Wang Merle K. Ibach Nathalie S. Schicktanz Anja Zimmer Andreas Papassotiropoulos Dominique J. F. de Quervain Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
description	Abstract Smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) applications (apps) might help to counter low utilization rates of available treatments for fear of heights. Demonstration of effectiveness in real-life situations of such apps is crucial, but lacking so far. Objective of this study was to develop a stand-alone, smartphone-based VR exposure app—Easy Heights—and to test its effectiveness in a real-life situation. We performed a single-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. We recruited 70 participants with fear of heights, aged 18–60 years. Primary outcome was performance in a real-life Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT) on a lookout tower after a single 1-h app use (phase 1) and after additional repeated (6 × 30 min) app use at home (phase 2). After phase 2, but not phase 1, participants in the Easy Heights condition showed significantly higher BAT scores compared to participants in the control condition (Cohen’s d = 1.3, p = 0.0001). Repeated use of our stand-alone, smartphone-based VR exposure app reduces avoidance behavior and fear, providing a low-threshold treatment for fear of heights.
format	article
author	Dorothée Bentz Nan Wang Merle K. Ibach Nathalie S. Schicktanz Anja Zimmer Andreas Papassotiropoulos Dominique J. F. de Quervain
author_facet	Dorothée Bentz Nan Wang Merle K. Ibach Nathalie S. Schicktanz Anja Zimmer Andreas Papassotiropoulos Dominique J. F. de Quervain
author_sort	Dorothée Bentz
title	Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
title_short	Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
title_full	Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
title_fullStr	Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
title_full_unstemmed	Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
title_sort	effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/df946755b8aa43f58ccccc6fe3e2ff24
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Effectiveness of a stand-alone, smartphone-based virtual reality exposure app to reduce fear of heights in real-life: a randomized trial

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