Virtual Reality and Anxiety Disorders Treatment: Evolution and Future Perspectives

Serrano, Berenice; Botella, Cristina; Wiederhold, Brenda K.; Baños, Rosa

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-9482-3_3

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…It has been observed that 75% of people with specific phobias fear three phobic objects on average (Serrano et al, 2019) explainable by the generalization of phobias, because people would apply the same coping strategies based mainly on escape and/or avoidance to other stimuli or situations that produce fear.…”

Section: Theoretical and Research Bases For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure through VR for specific phobias has been effective for various case types: fear of spiders, fear of flying, social anxiety and fear of public speaking, claustrophobia, fear of driving, acrophobia, fear of snakes, cockroaches and mice, dental phobia, shark phobia, etc. (da Costa et al, 2018; Kaussner et al, 2020; Malbos et al, 2020; Raghav et al, 2016, 2019; Serrano et al, 2019; Valmaggia et al, 2016). Although VR devices have decreased in price (Bun et al, 2017), to our knowledge there are no related scenarios or elaborate stimuli for all types of phobias and there is only software for more common phobias (e.g., fear of dogs, spiders, cockroaches, heights, etc.).…”

Section: Theoretical and Research Bases For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Progressive Multimedia Exposure for Specific Phobias: A Clinical Case of Claustrophobia and Acrophobia

Ruiz‐García

Aguayo

2021

Clinical Case Studies

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We present a multimedia exposure intervention for specific phobias using images and videos in a specific case of claustrophobia and acrophobia. The patient was a 47-year-old woman named “Jane” (anonymized name) who was diagnosed with fear of heights (acrophobia) and fear of confined spaces and enclosed areas (claustrophobia). The procedure was a single-case A-B design with several concurrent baselines, pre-post measurements, and two follow-ups (6 and 12 months). For the assessment, there were several questionnaires on anxiety and phobias and the continuous evaluation of anxiety and heart rate during treatment assays for each session. The treatment consisted of eight sessions of progressive multimedia exposure: images, videos, and in vivo settings. The results showed a decrease in the score for pre-post questionnaires ( Z = −4.196, p < .0010) and also a total decrease in anxiety in the different baselines (PND 100%). The benefits were maintained during 1 year of follow-up. After the treatment, “Jane” could be confronted with situations she previously feared, such as being on floors of different levels (up to ninth floor), in closed places, in crowded elevators, and traveling on buses and trains for long distances.

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Section: Theoretical and Research Bases For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical and Research Bases For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progressive Multimedia Exposure for Specific Phobias: A Clinical Case of Claustrophobia and Acrophobia

Ruiz‐García

Aguayo

2021

Clinical Case Studies

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confidence: 98%

“…VR is now widely and easily available in the home, resulting in greater potential reach and accessibility for VR interventions (VRIs) for mental health. However, despite earlier predictions that VR would revolutionise mental health care (Newman et al, 2011), many VRIs are yet to reach their full potential (Botella et al, 2017;Serrano et al, 2019).Research is increasingly demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of VRIs for various mental health conditions, though interventions rarely translate from research to application in clinical settings (Cipresso et al, 2018;Mishkind et al, 2017). Establishing efficacy does not guarantee uptake and routine use, with only 50% of clinical innovations translating to routine care (Bauer & Kirchner, 2019;Kirchner et al, 2020;Wiederhold & Riva, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Decade in Review: A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Interventions for Emotional Disorders

Rowland

Casey

Ganapathy

et al. 2021

Psychosocial Intervention

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Research is increasingly demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of virtual reality interventions for various mental health conditions, though these rarely translate from research to application in clinical settings. This systematic review aims to examine the efficacy of current virtual reality interventions for emotional disorders, with a focus on clinical and technological features that influence translation of treatments from research to clinical practice. A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, for studies including the application of a virtual reality intervention to a clinical population of adults with an emotional disorder. Thirty-seven eligible studies were identified, appraised, and assessed for bias. Treatment effects were typically large across studies, with virtual reality being considered an efficacious treatment modality for various anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Virtual reality interventions were typically used for delivering exposure in cognitive behavioural therapy approaches. Considerable variability was seen in cost, technological specifications, degree of therapist involvement, delivery format, dosage, duration, and frequency of treatment. Suboptimal methodological rigour was identified in some studies. Remote use of virtual reality was rare, despite increasing options for in home use. Virtual reality interventions have the potential to overcome barriers to care and better meet the needs of consumers. Future research should examine the efficacy of virtual reality for treatment of depressive disorders and obsesive compulsive disorder. Improved methodological reporting and development of transdiagnostic and remotely delivered virtual reality interventions, will likely increase the translation of this treatment modality. D. P. Rowland et al. / Psychosocial Intervention (2021) xx(x) xx-xxVirtual reality (VR) technology delivers sensory stimuli to generate a perceptual and interactive experience of a realistic and immersive environment (Rizzo et al., 2019). VR is defined as a computer generated, three-dimensional environment that is viewed using dual-display stereoscopic technology such as head mounted displays (HMDs) (Clough & Casey, 2011;Riva et al., 2016;Turner & Casey, 2014). The past decade has seen unprecedented industrial developments and advancements in the technological specifications of VR. Improvements in computing power, graphics, advanced processing speed, and greater internet connectivity has resulted in increased access and consumer demand for VR (Rizzo et al., 2019). VR is now widely and easily available in the home, resulting in greater potential reach and accessibility for VR interventions (VRIs) for mental health. However, despite earlier predictions that VR would revolutionise mental health care (Newman et al., 2011), many VRIs are yet to reach their full potential (Botella et al., 2017;Serrano et al., 2019).Research is increasingly demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of VRIs for various mental health condi...

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“…Research has also demonstrated similar degrees of effectiveness between VRET and in-vivo exposure therapy for reducing symptoms of aviophobia (Powers & Emmelkamp, 2008; Rothbaum et al, 2000, 2006; Wiederhold & Bouchard, 2014). VRET for treatment of aviophobia has certain advantages in addition to effectively reducing symptomatology, including a higher degree of therapist control over the therapeutic environment, increased ability to maintain confidentiality than in-vivo exposure affords, and the absence of restrictions limiting access to airports and aircrafts due to security measures largely implemented in airports following the 9/11 terrorist attacks (Serrano et al, 2019; Zimand et al, 2003).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Remotely conducted versus office-based virtual reality treatment for aviophobia: Questions of feasibility and accessibility.

Cherestal¹,

Schare²,

Grimaldi³

et al. 2021

Translational Issues in Psychological Science

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Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is an efficacious treatment modality for anxiety disorder treatment. Advances within this technology have allowed individuals to experience virtual reality remotely over the Internet; yet little is known about the feasibility of implementing remote VRET. This study compared the effectiveness of conducting VRET remotely to delivering the same treatment in a traditional, in-person format. A sample of 17 aviophobia participants, split over the 2 conditions, received 8 intensive hours of VRET treatment for fear of flying that included virtual exposure to full airplane flights. The VRET was delivered via smartphone technology through a commercial supplier. All participants were administered the Flight Anxiety Situations (FAS) at intake and at the conclusion of treatment. Whereas participants in both conditions demonstrated significant reductions in flight-related anxiety as measured by the FAS, there were no significant differences between treatment conditions on the FAS and completion rates of graduation flights. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility of remotely conducted VRET as the outcomes for remote and in-person conditions were equally effective. By implementing remote VRET, clinicians may effectively work with phobic individuals whom experience barriers to psychotherapeutic treatment such as prohibitive costs or lack of community accessibility to such services. VRET may become another useful teletherapy modality with additional research supporting its utility.What is the significance of this article for the general public?This study provides preliminary evidence that remote virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) produces similar treatment gains to in-person VRET for treatment of aviophobia. These results lay the groundwork for using this novel approach to treat individuals with other anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who otherwise might experience barriers to accessing treatment. These findings are particularly timely given the heightened sensitivity of providing teletherapy services stimulated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Virtual Reality and Anxiety Disorders Treatment: Evolution and Future Perspectives

Cited by 12 publications

References 91 publications

Progressive Multimedia Exposure for Specific Phobias: A Clinical Case of Claustrophobia and Acrophobia

Progressive Multimedia Exposure for Specific Phobias: A Clinical Case of Claustrophobia and Acrophobia

A Decade in Review: A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Interventions for Emotional Disorders

Remotely conducted versus office-based virtual reality treatment for aviophobia: Questions of feasibility and accessibility.

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