Filling the Gaps: Emetophobia Assessment and Treatment in Schools
Lagunas, N., Thompson, A., Schuler, C., Arenare, L., & Schaller, W.
National Association of School Psychologists, 2026
Our Mission to Make Recovery Accessible to All
The data behind the numbers we quote across this site. Every figure comes from anonymized data from people using Bia.
86%
record a lower severity score within two weeks
67%
average drop in severity from chapter 1 to chapter 11
41%
lower peak discomfort by a person's twelfth exposure
80,000+
exposures completed in Bia
Phobia severity across the program
Severity 0 – 5
Average across Bia users
Average severity falls from 3.8 to 1.3 on the 0 to 5 scale used in the app. On the 0 to 40 SMSP-A total that is 30.4 down to 10.0, a drop of 67 percent.
Peak discomfort during exposures
Average of the highest 0 to 10 discomfort rating a person gives during an exposure. 5.11 on a first exposure, 3.01 on a twelfth.
The measures
Severity Measure for Specific Phobia
Ten questions published by the American Psychiatric Association. Scored 0 to 40, shown in the app on a 0 to 5 scale. Taken at the start, then every two weeks and at each milestone.
Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, Revised
Used in place of the phobia measure for contamination OCD.
Subjective units of distress
A 0 to 10 discomfort rating collected at each step of every exposure. 80,000+ exposures have been rated this way.
Adults and children
Adults
Most of the improvement is recorded in the first six weeks. Gains continue more slowly after that. Breaks of 30 days or more are common.
Children
Improvement is recorded faster, often within the first two weeks. Children complete more exercises in less time and take fewer breaks.
Where these numbers come from
- 1,186 people have recorded two or more severity ratings, taken about two weeks apart. 86 percent scored lower the second time.
- Severity figures are per-chapter averages across Bia users at that point in the program.
- Peak discomfort is the highest 0 to 10 rating given while completing an exposure.
- Results are aggregated and anonymized from people using Bia on their own. This is not a randomized controlled trial, and individual results vary.
- Bia is not a replacement for therapy.
- Reporting on this page cannot be traced back to an individual. Bia never sells your data.
Research, talks, and partners
The evidence and the people behind Bia.
Innovations in Digital Care for Emetophobia: Findings from Bia, a Self-Guided Program
Kaur, K., Asnaani, A., Lagunas, N., Franklin, B. E., Yusko, D., & Schaller, W.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2026
University of Utah
Research Partner, Manuscript under Review
Overcoming emetophobia with a journey through Bia: Examining the effectiveness and uptake of an online self-guided, evidence-based treatment program
Lagunas, N., Schaller, W., Kaur, K., Franklin, B. E., Yusko, D., & Asnaani, A.
World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies Congress, 2026
Center for Anxiety and Behavior Therapy
Clinical Partnership, The Emetophobia Institute
Interested in partnering on research?
We collaborate with clinicians and researchers advancing exposure therapy. Bia's powerful client app and clinician portal provides significant data and opportunities to improve exposure. Please reach out anytime.
willy@biajourney.comResearch
Our first manuscript reviews two years of anonymized self-guided results and was written with the University of Utah. It is pending peer review. We presented at NASP, ADAA, and WCCBT in 2026.
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