Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Use of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality During Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Needle Phobia

United States20 participantsStarted 2026-05-01

Plain-language summary

This case series study seeks to evaluate the use of a Spatial Computing Device and Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) as an exposure therapy modality for children and adolescents with needle and blood-injection-injury phobia. This study will take place at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) and Stanford Hospital (Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA).

Who can participate

Age range11 Years – 17 Years

SexALL

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Inclusion criteria

✓. Patients between the ages of 11-17
✓. Fear of needle
✓. Patients screened with the modified APA severity Measure for Specific Phobia (blood, needles, or injections), and have an individual phobia score rated as moderate, severe, or extreme (as described below)

Exclusion criteria

✕. Legal guardian not present to obtain consent
✕. Adolescent with a significant neurological condition, or major developmental disability
✕. Adolescent with active infection of the face or hand
✕. A history of severe motion sickness
✕. A history of seizures caused by flashing light
✕. An impending surgery within the last 48 hours
✕. Adolescents who wear glasses and cannot use contacts
✕. Adolescents with physical disabilities that prevent them from using their hands

What they're measuring

Change in anxiety symptoms related to needle phobia and BII

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after the intervention of week 4 and week 5, 6 and 12 weeks after completion of treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07042074

SponsorStanford University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-04-30

Contact for this trial

Aaron Lulla, MD

310-478-3711 alulla@stanford.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Needle Phobia trials