ArticleFrontiers in psychiatry2025
Virtual reality delivered exposure for fear of needles: a small-scale pilot.
Article in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- VR-guided deep breathing during needle procedures in children.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Virtual reality delivered exposure for fear of needles: a small-scale pilot.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Fear of needles significantly impacts individual and public health by leading many adults to avoid necessary medical procedures, including vaccinations and blood tests. Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy has shown promise as an effective and accessible intervention for anxiety disorders but remains under-explored. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of a single-session virtual reality intervention targeting fear of needles in adults. Methods: A total of 62 adults reporting needle fear were recruited into experimental (n = 32) and online comparison groups (n = 30). The experimental group completed one Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy session, which comprised of two self-paced virtual reality exposures simulating medical needle procedures. Anxiety and affect were assessed at baseline, during, and immediately following virtual reality exposures, and at a one-month follow-up. Acceptability, usability, presence, plausibility, and virtual reality sickness were also measured. Results: The intervention successfully elicited anxiety during exposure. At one-month follow-up, a modest but statistically significant reduction in symptom severity was observed on one measure (Specific Phobia Questionnaire), though no significant change was noted in life interference or on another severity measure (Medical Fears Survey). Participants rated the intervention highly in terms of usability and acceptability, although some reported symptoms of virtual reality sickness (e.g., disorientation, motion sickness). Conclusions: Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy appears to be an effective and highly acceptable intervention for reducing immediate anxiety related to needle exposure, demonstrating strong potential as a scalable, accessible alternative to traditional exposure therapy. However, further research is necessary to confirm these findings, optimize intervention protocols, and examine long-term effectiveness for fear of needles.
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Registered trials
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