Efficacy of a Gamified Augmented Reality Exposure-based Application in Subjects With Fear of Spiders

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of a Gamified Augmented Reality Exposure-based Application in Subjects With Fear of Spiders

Investigation of the efficacy of a gamified augmented reality exposure app in individual with fear of spiders.

The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled between subject trial. The study consists of two visits and a home training for one group. 60 participants between 18 and 40 years with clinical or subclinical fear of spiders will take part in the study.

All assessments of outcome will be conducted on one visit for each participant, including an in vivo BAT. The experimental group will participate in a home training with the app, spanning over two weeks (6x30-minutes sessions), whereas the control group will not receive any treatment (untreated comparison group).

Six weeks after the first visit all participants undergo the assessments of outcome, including a second in vivo BAT. The BAT will take place 4 weeks after completion of the home training. This design allows a direct comparison and therefore an estimation of the efficacy of the gamified AR exposure therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fear of spiders
• BAT score before exposure between 1-8
• Physically healthy
• Fluent in German

Exclusion Criteria:

• BDI-II sumscore >=20 and/or item 9 >=1
• Concurrent psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy
• Previous exposure-based therapy for spider phobia
• Parallel participation in another study
• Chronic medication intake (except oral contraceptives)
• Medication intake before visits (less than 24h)
• Alcohol intake before visits (less than 12 h)
• Cannabis or other psychoactive substances (including benzodiazepines) intake before visits (less than 5 days)
• For women: Current pregnancy