Following a feasibility and safety study with 5 participants over 25 sessions [1], we completed a clinical trial of VR EMDR specific phobias treatment with 17 participants (85 treatment sessions over 5 days) [2]. The completion of the trial is such an outstanding achievement of the team and the volunteers!

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Phobia Scale scores indicated an improvement in 13 participants (76.5%). Scores for 9 participants (52.9%) decreased to below the subclinical threshold. On the Severity Measure for Specific Phobia ratings, 16 participants (94.1%) reported improvement across symptom domains (thoughts, feelings, behaviours).

Post-study interviews revealed that participants experienced a reduction in the intensity of fear response linked to phobia memory. Participant feedback underscored the importance of initial therapeutic support and revealed a preference for independent engagement with VR therapy sessions once familiarity was established.

Detailed results will be reported in peer-reviewed publications.

[1] Chan, O., Mu, M., Debus, A., Dohan, M., Nicholls, D., Wallang, P., and Breen, K., “Usability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Outcomes of VR EMDR Therapy for Specific Phobia: Mixed-Method Study”, accepted in Mental Health and Digital Technologies, Emerald Publishing, 2025, doi: 10.1108/MHDT-02-2025-0014
[2] https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06906770