Trial reportPloS one2016
In Vivo versus Augmented Reality Exposure in the Treatment of Small Animal Phobia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Trial report in PloS one, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 29 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effectiveness of a Projection-based Augmented Reality Exposure System in Treating Cockroach Phobia. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Bringing Exposure Therapy for Animal Phobias to Real-Life Context With Augmented Reality-Dogs
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Innovative virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Journal of global health · 2026Pooled it
- Tips for Effective Implementation of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Phobias-A Systematic Review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2021Pooled it
- Recent Progress in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Phobias: A Systematic Review.Current psychiatry reports · 2017Pooled it
- Facing fear through play: A smartphone-based proof-of-concept intervention using inverted augmented reality.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- Preliminary Findings From an Augmented Reality (AR) App Delivering Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia.Early intervention in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Augmented reality exposure treatments in anxiety and related disorders: A systematic review.Internet interventions · 2025Review
- Augmented Reality as an Aid to Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Narrative Review.Cureus · 2024Review
- Article
- The efficacy of augmented reality exposure therapy in the treatment of spider phobia-a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- The Efficacy and Therapeutic Alliance of Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy in Treating Adults With Phobic Disorders: Systematic Review.JMIR mental health · 2023Review
- Article
- Article
- Adverse Effects of Virtual and Augmented Reality Interventions in Psychiatry: Systematic Review.JMIR mental health · 2023Review
- Article
- Client's Experiences Using a Location-Based Technology ICT System during Gambling Treatments' Crucial Components: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Automated app-based augmented reality cognitive behavioral therapy for spider phobia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2022Article
- Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Internet interventions · 2021Article
- Cockroaches are scarier than snakes and spiders: Validation of an affective standardized set of animal images (ASSAI).Behavior research methods · 2021Article
- Blended transdiagnostic group CBT for emotional disorders: A feasibility trial protocol.Internet interventions · 2021Article
- Spider Phobia: Neural Networks Informing Diagnosis and (Virtual/Augmented Reality-Based) Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy-A Narrative Review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Although in vivo exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobias, some acceptability problems have been associated with it. Virtual Reality exposure has been shown to be as effective as in vivo exposure, and it is widely accepted for the treatment of specific phobias, but only preliminary data are available in the literature about the efficacy of Augmented Reality. The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy and acceptance of two treatment conditions for specific phobias in which the exposure component was applied in different ways: In vivo exposure (N = 31) versus an Augmented Reality system (N = 32) in a randomized controlled trial. "One-session treatment" guidelines were followed. Participants in the Augmented Reality condition significantly improved on all the outcome measures at post-treatment and follow-ups. When the two treatment conditions were compared, some differences were found at post-treatment, favoring the participants who received in vivo exposure. However, these differences disappeared at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Regarding participants' expectations and satisfaction with the treatment, very positive ratings were reported in both conditions. In addition, participants from in vivo exposure condition considered the treatment more useful for their problem whereas participants from Augmented Reality exposure considered the treatment less aversive. Results obtained in this study indicate that Augmented Reality exposure is an effective treatment for specific phobias and well accepted by the participants.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.