A self-guided virtual reality solution for social anxiety: Results from a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objective: The study examines the efficacy of a mobile application, oVRcome, which offers self-managed virtual reality exposure therapy combined with cognitive-behavioural techniques to treat social anxiety disorder. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted over six weeks with a waitlist delayed treatment group and follow-ups at 12 and 18 weeks. Participants were adults living in New Zealand with moderate to severe social anxiety disorder, as measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). The primary focus was on the change in LSAS scores from baseline to the sixth week. All analyses utilized the intention-to-treat data. Results: Out of 126 randomized participants, 81 completed the six-week follow-up. The retention rate at week 6 was 67.5%. The reduction in LSAS scores was significantly greater in the active group compared to the waitlist delayed treatment group (active group mean = −35.7 [SD = 24.0]; waitlist group: mean = − 2.2 [SD = 13.5]; p < 0.001), for an effect size of 1.8. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that oVRcome can effectively reduce social anxiety symptoms, offering a viable self-guided treatment option. Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05576259.