oVRcome app

oVRcome	By oVRcome
	Features Education Virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy Tools/techniques  Tracking Get the app: (external link) (external link) (external link)
Country of origin	Aotearoa New Zealand
Clinical review	Read a clinical review of this app.
Security and privacy	Does the app: collect medical information? Yes (collects medical information such as severity of fear, and anxiety ratings for specific VR environments. This data is used to personalise the treatment for the user. The data collected is encrypted.) require a login? Yes have password protection? No have a privacy policy? Yes(external link) require internet access? Yes Read more safety tips around health apps.
Cost	Free version (basic). NZ$46 per month (excludes headset) or NZ$322 annually (includes headset).
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.

What does the app do?

The oVRcome app is most useful for people who have a phobia or fear and want to overcome it. Currently the app offers 7 programmes, these are targeted for fear of needles, flying, heights, public speaking, dogs, spiders and social anxiety.

The app consists of 6 modules:

• The first 4 modules are psychoeducation modules where users learn skills and techniques for managing anxiety, eg, diaphragmatic breathing and thought reframing.
• The 5th module is the virtual reality exposure therapy, this is where the user will build their exposure hierarchy from the extensive library of VR content, and experience gradual exposure. The app records a user's anxiety rating using a subjective units of distress scale (SUDS) rating which is entered using gaze control. The 5th module is where users spend the majority of their time in the app.
• Once the exposure hierarchy is completed, the 6th module is one that prepares the user for real-life exposure and also includes meditation material.

Free version (basic)

The free portion of the app allows the user to select virtual reality (VR) clips from different categories of phobias that they would like to work on in gaining confidence in managing their phobia. The selection of VR clips is limited in number and restricted to “low and medium” anxiety ones. The videos can be viewed on a handheld mobile phone, or using a VR headset (e.g. Google cardboard) for an immersive experience.

Premium version

In the premium subscription, users will be mailed a VR headset, gain access to a 2.5 hour psychoeducation program split into 6 modules and a VR library with graded exposure of the anxiety-provoking stimulus.

For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see Reviews.

Review details

Date of review: November 2021 (reviewed the needle phobia programme)
Platform reviewed: Apple iOS
Version: 1.44.3

Related topics

Phobia topics
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
NZ health app library