A brief treatment for fear of heights

Abstract

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a novel imaginal intervention for people with acrophobia. Methods The design was a randomized controlled trial with concealed randomization and blinded to other participants' intervention. The intervention was a single novel imaginal intervention session or a 15-min meditation. The setting was in Auckland, New Zealand. The participants were a convenience sample of the public with a score >29 on the Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ), a questionnaire validated against actual height exposure. The primary outcomes were the proportion of participants with a score <26 on the HIQ at eight weeks and difference between the HIQ scores between the two arms of the study. Results Ninety-eight participants (92%) returned their questionnaire and were included in the intention to treat analysis. The HIQ score <26 was 34.6% (18/52) in the intervention group and 15.2% (7/46) in the control group RR = 2.26, 95% CI (1.05, 4.95) and p = 0.028. The numbers needed to treat is six 95% CI (3 to 36). Participants with scores <26 report their fear of heights is very much improved. There was a 4.5-point difference in the HIQ score at eight weeks (p = 0.055) on the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions This is the first randomized trial of this novel imaginal intervention which is probably effective, brief, easily learnt, and safe. It may be worth considering doing this prior to some of the longer or more expensive exposure therapies. This study will be of interest to family doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

Automated psychological therapy using immersive virtual reality for treatment of fear of heights: a single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial

“…Inclusion criteria were that a participant had to be older than 18 years and have a fear of heights corresponding to a Heights Interpretation Questionnaire (HIQ) 11 score of more than 29. We used the same cutoff as was used in the treatment trial by Arroll and colleagues, 12 which indicates at least a moderate fear of heights. We excluded people if they were currently receiving a psychological treatment for fear of heights, had photosensitive epilepsy, or had either no stereoscopic vision or balance problems.…”

“…These treatment effects amount to differences between treatments on the HIQ of 7·6 and 6·6, respectively, based on an SD of 11·7 (taken from the mean of the baseline SDs of the two groups reported by Arroll and colleagues). 12 …”

ALTVRA: um jogo sério de realidade virtual para o auxílio no tratamento de acrofobia

“…Emmelkamp et al (2002) constataram que pessoas com acrofobia demonstravam níveis similares de ansiedade quando expostas a altura em um ambiente real e em um ambiente virtual (idêntico ao real). Arroll et al (2017) acentuam que existem diversas técnicas e tratamentos para a acrofobia, sendo a dessensibilização sistemática uma delas. Wolpe (1958) apresenta a dessensibilização sistemática, que utiliza conceitos do condicionamento clássico a fim de atenuar os efeitos causados pela ansiedade de forma que um indivíduo possa se dessensibilizar de uma situação, como uma fobia.…”