Self-efficacy Enhancement in a Virtual Reality Training for Fear of Heights

Self-efficacy (SE) enhancement after virtual reality exposure (VRET) for heights can promote treatment-induced effects (Raeder et al. 2019). Raeder et al (2019) employed an intervention to enhance SE by introducing specific questions about autobiographical events of success and mastery experiences in the course of VRET. Building on these previous findings, the present study aims to examine whether SE-enhancement DURING and/or AFTER a brief VR-based exposure for fear of heights (in the following referred to as VR-height-exposure) is suitable to promote exposure-induced reductions in height-related fear and avoidance. To this end, repeated visual feedback DURING a brief VR-height-exposure will be used to selectively promote SE and mastery experiences. In a similar vein, SE-enhancement AFTER VR-height-exposure will be administered. The effects of these interventions will be assessed on different treatment outcome levels. It will be further examined whether the combined SE enhancement (DURING and AFTER exposure) is more effective that 1.) SE enhancement performed DURING VR-height-exposure only or 2.) SE enhancement performed AFTER VR-height-exposure only. The investigators hypothesize that SE enhancement (either administered DURING or AFTER VR-height-exposure) will be more effective (as indicated by more pronounced reductions in height-related fear and avoidance) than VR-height-exposure alone. It is further expected that the combined SE enhancement DURING and AFTER VR-height-exposure will be more effective compared to SE enhancement DURING VR-height-exposure alone and/or SE enhancement DURING VR-height-exposure alone.