Neuroscience & Neuroimaging Research Collection

Journal article

Automated virtual reality therapy to treat needle fears (trypanophobia) in adolescents in England: a proof-of-concept cohort study and a Phase II randomised controlled trial

Abstract:: Background:
Fear of needles is distressing but can also lead to avoidance of vaccinations, blood donation, and medical tests and treatments. Working with adolescents with needle fears, we developed an automated virtual reality (VR) therapy. We set out to evaluate its efficacy.
Methods:
We conducted an initial proof-of-concept cohort study followed by a Phase II randomised controlled trial. Participants were included if they were 12-15 years old an... Expand abstract
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Publication status:: Accepted

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Freeman, D., Freeman, J., Farmer, E., Turner, H., Ward, R., Miguel, A., Bousfield, M., Myrick, J., Rovira, A., McShane, H., Pollard, A. J., Waite, F., Lambe, S., Povey, A., Singleton, F., Senra, H., Yu, L., & Twivy, E. (2026). Automated virtual reality therapy to treat needle fears (trypanophobia) in adolescents in England: a proof-of-concept cohort study and a Phase II randomised controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine.

MLA Style

Freeman, D, et al. “Automated Virtual Reality Therapy to Treat Needle Fears (Trypanophobia) in Adolescents in England: a Proof-of-Concept Cohort Study and a Phase II Randomised Controlled Trial.” EClinicalMedicine, 2026.

Chicago Style

Freeman, D, J Freeman, E Farmer, et al. 2026. “Automated Virtual Reality Therapy to Treat Needle Fears (Trypanophobia) in Adolescents in England: a Proof-of-Concept Cohort Study and a Phase II Randomised Controlled Trial.” EClinicalMedicine.
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Authors

+ Freeman, D More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Oxford college:: Magdalen College
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0000-0002-2541-2197

+ Freeman, J More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0009-0007-2544-0415

+ Farmer, E More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Role:: Author

+ Turner, H More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Role:: Author

+ Ward, R More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Role:: Author

More authors...

+ NIHR Oxford Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Centre More from this funder

Funder identifier:: https://ror.org/00aps1a34

+ Beryl Alexander Charity More from this funder

Publisher:: Elsevier
Journal:: EClinicalMedicine More from this journal
Acceptance date:: 2026-06-08
EISSN:: 2589-5370

Language:: English
Keywords:: adolescents

needle fears

blood-injection-injury phobia

anxiety disorders

virtual reality (VR)
Pubs id:: 2431181
Local pid:: pubs:2431181
Deposit date:: 2026-06-08
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_ed548efc3db24f7db6618df323528ad5

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