Virtual reality is being used to treat your common phobias.

A University of Otago, Christchurch trial looked at patients who had a phobia of either flying, needles, heights, spiders or dogs and set them up with a virtual reality headset and a smartphone app called oVRcome.

And after just six weeks of the treatment programme participants showed a 75 percent reduction in phobia symptoms.

Associate professor and trial leader Cameron Lacey joined Mike Hosking.

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