CompletedNot Applicable

Values Interventions for Increasing Engagement With What is Feared in Individuals With Specific Phobias

Cyprus90 participantsStarted 2020-09-01

Plain-language summary

Exposure is considered the therapy of choice for specific phobias (SPs). Nevertheless, therapy engagement is extremely limited. SPs are maintained through avoidance of feared stimuli and as such willingness to approach what is feared constitutes a key factor that could explain limited treatment engagement. Values interventions, a key element of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), might be one way to increase engagement, yet to this date limited research exists in this area. For the purposes of the current study, two brief values interventions were developed: (a) a personal and (b) a prosocial one. These will be compared to (c) a no-instructions control in increasing willingness to approach and approach behaviour towards phobic stimuli. Ninety participants with flying phobia will be randomly allocated to one of the three groups. To measure willingness to engage with feared stimuli and approach behaviour two behavioural approach tasks using novel technologies (virtual reality), which aimed to expose participants to situations analogous to real life, were developed. Willingness and behavioural approach towards airplanes at a one month follow up will also be assessed. Therefore, it is hypothesised that: 1. Participants in either of the two values intervention groups will have greater willingness to engage and approach behaviour towards feared stimuli compared to those in control, during the study tasks. 2. Participants in either of the two values intervention groups will have greater willingness to engage and approach behaviour towards feared stimuli compared to those in control at follow up. Additionally, as prosocial values provide an evolutionary advantage, the second study aim was to identify if they lead to greater engagement with phobic stimuli compared to personal ones. Therefore, it was also hypothesised that: 3. Participants in the prosocial values group will have greater willingness to engage and approach behaviour towards feared stimuli compared to those in personal values group, both during the study tasks and at follow up. 4. Participants in the prosocial values group will have greater willingness to engage and approach behaviour towards feared stimuli compared to those in personal values group at follow up.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5 * Good knowledge of the Greek language (adequate comprehension level, reading level, and verbal communication) Exclusion Criteria: * Severe heart disease * High blood pressure * Photosensitive epilepsy

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial used virtual reality to measure willingness to approach feared situations — if I have a specific phobia, is VR-based exposure something my doctor thinks could be appropriate for me compared to traditional in-person exposure therapy?
2The trial tracked actual follow-up flying behavior as one of its main outcomes, which suggests it focused on real-world impact — can my doctor tell me whether results from this completed study showed any meaningful changes in participants' ability to engage with what they feared in everyday life?
3Since this study is labeled 'Phase NA,' meaning it wasn't a standard drug trial testing safety and dosage in stages, how does my doctor interpret what that means for the strength of evidence behind any findings — and how would that affect my treatment decisions?
4The trial measured something called 'behavioral willingness' rather than just symptom reduction — can my doctor explain how that goal of being willing to approach feared situations fits into the broader treatment approach they'd recommend for my specific phobia?
5This trial has already been completed, so I won't be able to enroll — does my doctor know whether the findings have been published, and if so, could the values-based intervention approach used here inform the type of therapy they might suggest for me??

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Willingness

Timeframe: Day 1 (During experimental tasks)

Virtual Reality Behavioural Approach Task (VR BAT)

Timeframe: Day 1 (During experimental tasks)

Behavioural Willingness Assessment (BWA)

Timeframe: Day 1 (During experimental tasks)

Follow up Flying Behaviour

Timeframe: One month follow up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05300061

SponsorUniversity of Cyprus

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-05-14

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Specific Phobia trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.