Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety -

Do you experience anxiety in social settings or during video calls?

We’re conducting a research study to better understand social anxiety and how virtual reality might help!

The study has two parts:

Screening Study (60 minutes): You will be asked to complete questionnaires about your background, anxiety, and mood. You will also do a few short computer-based tasks, respond to avatar and chatbot interactions, and take part in a brief Zoom interview. This part of the study takes about 60 minutes. Before you start the screening study you can enter a drawing for a $50 gift card.
Main Study (In-Person at Mountain View, CA): If the screening shows you might be a good fit, you may be invited to complete 1 to 3 inperson visits in Mountain View, CA. You will be compensated $15 per visit. There are also two online follow-ups surveys after completion of in-person visits. You can enter into drawing for a $100 gift card before beginning the first follow-up survey. You must be able to travel to Mountain View, CA, for in-person sessions if selected.

Eligibility Crieteria:

Adults, 18+ years old
Have access to a computer with internet and a webcam (mobile phones are not supported)
Must be able to travel to Mountain View, CA, for in-person sessions if selected

The Study Includes:

Screening Study:
You will complete a screening consent form (this consent form is only for the screening study, if the study is a good fit, you will also be asked to do a separate consent form for the main study before you come for an in-person visit)

The first step will be to indicate that you consent to participate by completing this form.
You will then be asked to answer some demographics information (e.g., age, sex, education, city where you were born), questions about your medication usage, your alcohol and drug use, your social anxiety, your general functioning, some questions about different experiences you may have had and your mood (15 minutes).
You will then be asked to complete a brief task-based attention assessment (5 minutes)
You will then be asked to complete two responses to avatar questions and a simulated teleconferencing interaction (5 minutes).
You will be asked to complete a brief interaction with a chatbot about your mental health (5 minutes).
You will then be asked to indicate your availability for a brief assessment call with a graduate student in clinical psychology conducted over zoom (30 minutes).
You will then complete the assessment over zoom and if the study seems to be a good fit, review it with the graduate student in clinical psychology and schedule your in person visit for the main study.

Main Study:

The main study takes place in Mountain View, California and is compensated $15 per visit (between 1-3 visits). You must be able to travel to Mountain View, CA, for in-person visits if selected.
There are three different main studies that may be available and only one main study can be completed:
- Single session VR enhanced with attention training: a single 60 minute visit
- Two session VR completed remotely: a single 30 minute visit with two remote 60 minute visits completed from your home within a two week period.
- Three session VR with different types of social scenarios: three 60-minute visits completed in person over a 3-week period.
For all main studies there are two follow-up assessments completed 4-weeks and 12-weeks after completion of the in person visits.
- For the single session study the total estimated duration of participation is 12-weeks
- For the two-session study the total estimated duration of participation is 14-weeks
- For the three-session study the total estimated duration of participation is 15-weeks
- You will not receive compensation for your time completing the follow-up assessment. You will be able to enter a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card at the time of completing the main study.