| Trial ID | NCT06514495 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Condition | Agoraphobia; Panic |
| Intervention | Therapy |
Agoraphobia affects millions yet many patients avoid exposure therapy, the gold standard treatment, due to its intensity. This trial investigates whether virtual reality exposure therapy could provide comparable benefits to traditional in-vivo exposure while examining biological mechanisms that could predict treatment success.
This is a clinical trial comparing in-vivo exposure therapy to Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for agoraphobia patients. The study examines treatment outcomes alongside interoceptive accuracy (body awareness) and endocannabinoid system function as potential biomarkers. Researchers are investigating how these biological systems influence therapy response and whether VR exposure can match the efficacy of traditional exposure methods. The trial is currently recruiting participants with agoraphobia and panic disorder.
“If this trial demonstrates that VR exposure therapy produces comparable outcomes to traditional exposure, it could dramatically expand access to effective treatment for agoraphobia patients who find in-person exposure too daunting. Understanding endocannabinoid involvement could also inform future cannabis-based adjunct therapies.”
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FAQ
What is this agoraphobia trial comparing?
The trial compares traditional in-vivo exposure therapy with Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for people with agoraphobia. Researchers are examining treatment outcomes and whether VR exposure can match the efficacy of traditional exposure methods. The trial is registered as NCT06514495.
Does this agoraphobia trial involve cannabis or cannabinoid treatment?
The listing does not describe any cannabis treatment; the intervention is therapy. Instead, the trial measures endocannabinoid system function, along with interoceptive accuracy, or body awareness, as potential biomarkers. Researchers are investigating how these biological systems influence response to exposure therapy.
Who can take part in this exposure therapy trial?
The trial is currently recruiting people with agoraphobia and panic disorder. Those who take part may receive either traditional in-vivo exposure therapy or virtual reality exposure therapy, both of which the article describes as evidence-based approaches.
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