Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Inpatients

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age17-55
SponsorNational Institute of Mental Health, Czech Republic

About this trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Participants are randomly assigned to one of the following interventions: a) exposure condition - the group with a standard CBT program enriched with exposure therapy in VR (VRET), b) control condition 1 - the group with a standard CBT program enriched with VR cognitive training aimed at cognitive flexibility or c) control condition 2 - standard CBT program without any additional VR intervention. The treatment effect will be evaluated using pre/post assessments, as well as monitoring adherence to exposure and response prevention assignments.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Diagnosis of OCD (F42) using currently valid DSM-V and ICD-11

Fluent in Czech

Disqualifiers

Any other psychiatric, neurological and serious somatic illness

Substance abuse

Psychotropic medication (e.g. benzodiazepines) except antidepressants, antipsychotic medication and hypnotics.

Contradictions to using a virtual reality (e.g., epilepsy, balance problems)

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Exposure Therapy (Virtual Reality)
  • Cognitive flexibility training
  • Standard CBT program without VR interventions

Treatment groups

62 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups