Improving the Exposure Therapy Through Projection-based Augmented Reality for the Treatment of Cockroach Phobia

Improving the Exposure Therapy Through Projection-based Augmented Reality for the Treatment of Cockroach Phobia

Improving the Exposure Therapy Through Projection-based Augmented Reality for the Treatment of Cockroach Phobia: A Multiple-baseline Single Case Study

The aim of this study is to test the efficacy and efficiency of varying the phobic stimuli during the augmented reality (AR) exposure therapy using multiple stimuli versus one single stimulus through projection-based AR (P-ARET) for the treatment of participants diagnosed with cockroach phobia.

Specific phobia (SP) refers to an extreme and persistent fear of a specific object or situation that is out of proportion to the actual danger or threat. SP is the most prevalent anxiety disorder with substantial impairment and comorbidity. Animal fear is one of the most prevalent subtypes of SP. In vivo exposure is the treatment of choice for this problem, but this technique is associated to limitations in its implementation related to the access and acceptability (i.e., low acceptance on the part of patients and therapists, high dropout rates, limited access to the treatment and, difficulties in its application in the clinical context). Augmented Reality (AR) offers some advantages in delivering the exposure technique: 1) Exposure to multiple virtual stimuli; 2) Going beyond reality; 3) Allowing complete control over the situation; 4) It allows privacy and confidentiality. Particularly, the most significant aspect of AR is that the virtual elements add relevant and helpful information to the physical information available in the real world. The study will follow the guidelines of a multiple-baseline single case design with alternating treatments. Participants (N = 4) who received a diagnosis of SP for cockroaches (DSM-5), will be randomly assigned to different baselines (ranging between 8 and 14 days) and all of them will receive the two experimental conditions: 1) AR exposure therapy with multiple stimuli and; 2) AR exposure therapy with a single stimulus. Five evaluation moments will be included: pre-intervention (baseline), post- intervention, and follow-up at the first month, 6 and 12 months.

Specific Phobia, Cockroach phobia, Exposure therapy, Augmented Reality, Projection-Based, Single case study

The intervention will be based on exposure therapy to cockroaches using P-ARET. Main components: Psychoeducation, Exposure to the feared object (cockroach), modeling (the therapist will interact with the phobic stimulus first and if possible, the patient will follow the same steps), cognitive restructuring, and reinforcement and relapse prevention.

The intervention will be based on exposure therapy to cockroaches using P-ARET. Main components: Psychoeducation, Exposure to the feared object (cockroach), modeling (the therapist will interact with the phobic stimulus first and if possible, the patient will follow the same steps), cognitive restructuring, and reinforcement and relapse prevention.

The intervention will be based on exposure therapy to cockroaches using P-ARET. Main components: Psychoeducation, Exposure to the feared object (cockroach), modeling (the therapist will interact with the phobic stimulus first and if possible, the patient will follow the same steps), cognitive restructuring, and reinforcement and relapse prevention.

The intervention will be based on exposure therapy to cockroaches using P-ARET. Main components: Psychoeducation, Exposure to the feared object (cockroach), modeling (the therapist will interact with the phobic stimulus first and if possible, the patient will follow the same steps), cognitive restructuring, and reinforcement and relapse prevention.

P-ARET for cockroach phobia alternating between two interventions: exposure to a single stimulus (always using the same projected cockroach) and exposure to multiple stimuli (different cockroaches in terms of number, shape, colour and movement). It will be counterbalanced to start the same number of participants in each of the two modalities. The two conditions will be randomly applied for each participant, with the restriction of that each condition will be applied 3 times. There will be 6 weekly sessions of approximately 1 hour. The purpose of this exposure treatment is to confront patients to the phobic stimuli in a controlled manner, which favors the habituation process and allows them to accept that the negative consequences they fear do not actually occur. All exposure sessions should be recorded (patients will sign informed consent for recording prior to treatment initiation).

Change in fear, avoidance, belief in negative thoughts and coping ability with the feared stimulus levels.

Item1: If you see a cockroach in front of you at this moment… To what extent would you be scared of it? Item 2: If you see a cockroach in front of you at this moment… to what extent would you avoid it?, Item 3: If you see a cockroach in front of you at this moment… To what extent would you believe that it is dangerous for you?, Item 4: To what extent you believe that you could cope with a cockroach of different size, colour and shape? Ranged from 0 (nothing) to 10 (very much)

Once a day (from the start of the baseline until the end of the treatment) and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the end of the treatment.

Patients will be confronted to a real cockroach and they will be encouraged to get closer and interact with the stimulus as much as they can. The anxiety level (0-10), distance and level of interaction with the animal will be registered evaluated in a scale ranging from 0 (the participant does not enter the room) to 12 (interacts with the cockroach).

Change in Behavioral Avoidance Test through AR (BAT; adapted from Öst, Salkovskis, & Hellström's, 1991)

Patients will be confronted to a novel projected cockroach (not used before in any treatment condition) and they will be encouraged to get closer and interact with the stimulus as much as they can. The anxiety level (0-10), distance and level of interaction with the animal will be registered evaluated in a scale ranging from 0 (the participant does not enter the room) to 12 (interacts with the cockroach).

Change in Fear of Cockroaches Questionnaire (adapted from Fear of Spiders Questionnaire; FSQ, Szymanski & O'Donohue, 1995)

This questionnaire assesses the level of fear to cockroaches. It has 18 items evaluated in a scale ranging from 1 (nothing) to 7 (very much).

This instrument evaluates the degree of improvement of the patient' symptoms after the treatment compared to the start. It is ranged from 1 (much worse) and 7 (much better).

At the beginning of the intervention and immediately after the treatment, and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the end of the treatment.

This instrument assesses the severity of symptoms evaluated by the clinician and the scale ranged from 0 (absent) to 8 (very severe).

Change in Scale of expectation and satisfaction with the treatment (adapted from Borkovec y Nau, 1972)

This instrument contains 6 items ranged from 0 (nothing) to 10 (very much) assessing the patient's opinions about the treatment, focusing on their expectations and degree of satisfaction.

Inclusion Criteria: Being at least 18 years old Meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for SP (animal subtype) to cockroaches Having a minimum of six-month duration of the phobia Sign an informed consent Presenting a score of at least 4 on the fear and avoidance scales of the diagnostic interview applied Exclusion Criteria: Presence of another severe mental disorder that requires immediate attention Having current alcohol or drug dependence or abuse, psychosis or severe organic illness Currently being treated in a similar treatment program Being capable of inserting their hands in a plastic container with a cockroach (during the behavioral test) Receiving other psychological treatment during the study for cockroach phobia Start receiving pharmacological treatment during the study (or in case of being already taking them, change the drug or dose)

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