RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06795555

Virtual Reality Exposure to Reduce Food Related Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa

Virtual Food for Real Thought: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality Exposure in Anorexia Nervosa

Sponsor

University of Padova

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

Mar 1, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Summary

Exposure to food stimuli often elicit aversive emotions in patients with anorexia nervosa, which can perpetuate eating-related avoidance. Exposure therapy has been shown to effectively reduce anxiety toward, and avoidance of, feared stimuli in several psychiatric disorders. Digital technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) have been employed to implement exposure therapy in situations where in vivo exposure is unfeasible, challenging, or perceived as threatening by patients. VR has also the potential to be used by individuals repeatedly in their own time and environment, to consolidate new learning. This pilot randomised controlled study evaluates the feasibility and clinical impact of repeated VR exposure to food stimuli in patients with anorexia nervosa attending intensive daycare treatment (treatment as usual, TAU). VR food exposure will be compared to the use of a relaxation-focused VR scenario (natural environment) and a control condition (no use of VR). Patients in all groups will receive TAU.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin Age: 14 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study uses virtual reality (VR) — a headset that puts you in an immersive computer-generated environment — to help people with anorexia nervosa reduce their anxiety around food. The idea is that gradually experiencing food-related situations in a safe, virtual setting can help reduce fear responses associated with eating. **You may be eligible if...** - You have a current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa - You are 14 years of age or older **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have a neurological disorder - You have psychosis or a substance abuse disorder - You have uncorrected severe hearing or vision problems - You experience significant dizziness or motion sickness (cybersickness) when using VR headsets Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALVirtual reality food exposure

Patients in this condition are exposed to a virtual kitchen environment once/day, for 5 consecutive days (from Monday, day 1, to Friday, day 5). Each session lasts 5 minutes. The VR environment was specifically developed by the study team (Natali et al, 2024) and it consists of a kitchen with foods of different calorie contents. Patients are invited to explore the environment; they can freely move, open the cupboards and the fridge, and grab and hold the foods. Participants can choose to interact with one of three versions of the virtual kitchen environment: a) a kitchen alone, b) a kitchen with a virtual pet which participants can interact with (and aimed at inducing positive mood) and c) a kitchen with a compassionate avatar which motivates the participant to face food-related fears.

BEHAVIORALVirtual Reality Nature Exposure

Patients in this condition complete a session of VR exposure to a natural scenario (from the NatureTreksVR app) for 5 consecutive days (from Monday to Friday), one session/day. Each session lasts 5 minutes. Participants can choose exposure to one of three different natural environments, at the start of each session: a white sand beach ("Blue Ocean"), a snowy mountain ("White Winter"), or a forest in autumn foliage ("Red Fall").