Actively Recruiting
Differential Effects of in Vivo and Virtual Exposure Therapy in Agoraphobia
Led by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · Updated on 2025-09-03
68
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
117 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia, are prevalent in the German population, leading affected individuals to avoid specific places like crowds or public transport. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure is an effective treatment, many patients resort to medication rather than therapy. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) shows promise in easing exposure treatment with customizable scenarios. Interoception (body symptom perception) and the endocannabinoid system are explored as factors in maintaining agoraphobia. Studies investigate how therapies like exposure (both in vivo and in VR) impact these factors and treatment outcomes. Interoception, especially in panic disorder patients, plays a crucial role, with accurate heartbeat perception linked to maintaining anxiety. The endocannabinoid system, affecting various functions, is studied for its role in therapy outcomes and its modulation of the body's stress response. The study aims to understand how these systems interact in agoraphobic patients and how therapy affects their functionality.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Differential Effects of in Vivo and Virtual Exposure Therapy in Agoraphobia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of agoraphobia with or without panic disorder (experimental group)
- Diagnosis of social phobia (clinical control group)
- Healthy individuals without acute or chronic mental illness (control group)
- Depressive disorder allowed as a comorbid diagnosis in experimental and clinical control groups
You will not qualify if you...
- Other mental illnesses: substance dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, eating disorders, PTSD, major depressive episode, personality disorder
- Somatic diseases: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, metabolic or endocrine diseases
- Taking psychotropic medication (except antidepressants), medication affecting the cardiovascular system (e.g., beta-blockers), cortisone medications, or corticosteroid creams
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Ongoing psychotherapy
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University Medical Center
Mainz, Germany, 55122
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
V
Vanessa Renner, Dr.
CONTACT
K
Katja Petrowski, Prof.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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