Randomised trial of one-session virtual reality exposure therapy for blood-injection-injury phobias

Authors conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a single-session virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) intervention for blood-injection-injury (BII) phobias. Participants completed self-report measures of BII severity (Medical Fear Survey [MFS] and Multidimensional Blood Phobia Inventory [MBPI]) and dental anxiety (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale), and clinician ratings of BII phobia severity and catastrophic cognitions at baseline, one-week post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Researchers found moderate to large differences favouring VRET on the MBPI Injection and Injury fears subscales (g's=0.64–1.14) at one-week post-treatment and 3-month follow-up, and on the MBPI Fainting subscale (g = 0.84) and Injections subscale of the Medical Fear Survey (g = 0.63) at follow-up. In conclusion, there is some evidence to suggest that a single-session VRET may provide improvements in fears of injections, injury, and fainting.

Citation:

Jiang, M. Y. W., Upton, E., & Newby, J. M. (2020). A randomised wait-list controlled pilot trial of one-session virtual reality exposure therapy for blood-injection-injury phobias. Journal of Affective Disorders, 276, 636–645.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.076

Open access: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032720325210