Virtual Reality Exposure to Reduce Food Related Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa

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.

NCT Number	NCT06795555
Lead Sponsor	University of Padova Collaborators: University of Salerno, Italy, Ospedale S.Bortolo -Vicenza, Italy
Conditions	Anorexia Nervosa
Enrollment	60 participants
Start Date	2024-03-01
Primary Completion	2025-09 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-12 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-01-29