scholarly journals Evaluation of a Brazilian simulator for virtual reality behavior therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-75
Author(s):  
Marcela Roberta Jacyntho Zacarin ◽  
Elizeu Borloti ◽  
Verônica Bender Haydu
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Initial Session ◽  
Functional Analyses ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure ◽  
Therapy Sessions ◽  
Avoidance Responses

Behavioral therapy combined with a virtual reality exposure (VRE) component can be useful for the treatment of fears and phobias. This study aimed to: (a) describe and evaluate a behavioral therapy procedure amplified by VRE for the treatment of fear of height and (b) record sense of presence and cybersickness during exposure to assess the Virtua Therapy simulator. The procedure consisted of: an initial session; six therapy sessions, which included graduate exposure, prevention of escape-avoidance responses, and functional analyses of behaviors; two follow-up sessions. Sense of presence and cybersickness were recorded. The intervention decreased the participants’ levels of anxiety and the frequency of avoidance of situations involving heights in the virtual environment, and they reported decreases in day-to-day avoidance responses, demonstrating therapeutic effects. The simulator produced sense of presence. Cybersickness occurred primarily during the first session, indicating habituation effect. It was concluded that the Virtua Therapy simulator is an appropriate device for behavioral therapy.

scholarly journals One-year randomized trial comparing virtual reality-assisted therapy to cognitive–behavioral therapy for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Dellazizzo ◽  
Stéphane Potvin ◽  
Kingsada Phraxayavong ◽  
Alexandre Dumais
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Comparative Trial ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations

AbstractThe gold-standard cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis offers at best modest effects. With advances in technology, virtual reality (VR) therapies for auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), such as AVATAR therapy (AT) and VR-assisted therapy (VRT), are amid a new wave of relational approaches that may heighten effects. Prior trials have shown greater effects of these therapies on AVH up to a 24-week follow-up. However, no trial has compared them to a recommended active treatment with a 1-year follow-up. We performed a pilot randomized comparative trial evaluating the short- and long-term efficacy of VRT over CBT for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Patients were randomized to VRT (n = 37) or CBT (n = 37). Clinical assessments were administered before and after each intervention and at follow-up periods up to 12 months. Between and within-group changes in psychiatric symptoms were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Short-term findings showed that both interventions produced significant improvements in AVH severity and depressive symptoms. Although results did not show a statistically significant superiority of VRT over CBT for AVH, VRT did achieve larger effects particularly on overall AVH (d = 1.080 for VRT and d = 0.555 for CBT). Furthermore, results suggested a superiority of VRT over CBT on affective symptoms. VRT also showed significant results on persecutory beliefs and quality of life. Effects were maintained up to the 1-year follow-up. VRT highlights the future of patient-tailored approaches that may show benefits over generic CBT for voices. A fully powered single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing VRT to CBT is underway.

Effect of Virtual Reality Graded Exposure on Heart Rate and Self-Reported Anxiety Levels of Performing Saxophonists

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn K. Orman
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Graded Exposure ◽  
Subjective Measurements ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Exposure Sessions ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

This study is an examination of the effect of computer-generated virtual reality graded exposure on the physiological and psychological responses of performing musicians. Eight university saxophone majors, five men and three women, participated in twelve 15- to 20-minute weekly practice sessions during which they were immersed in one of four different virtual environments designed to elicit various anxiety levels. Baseline heart rates and subjective measurements were taken prior to immersion and continued throughout the exposure period. In addition, heart rate and subjective measurements were recorded for three live performances given by each subject before beginning the virtual reality exposure and after completion of the sixth and the twelfth exposure sessions. Findings indicated that the virtual environments did elicit a sense of presence and may have provided the means for desensitization. Heart-rate readings and psychological indications of anxiety did not always correspond.

Feasibility trial of virtual reality exposure therapy for selective mutism

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910452110569
Author(s):  
Yi Ren Tan ◽  
Yoon Phaik Ooi ◽  
Rebecca P Ang ◽  
Dion H Goh ◽  
Clare Kwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Selective Mutism ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Evidence Based Care ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has been commonly utilised as an extension of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, most studies examined its effectiveness among adults, with no study focusing on children with selective mutism (SM). We aimed to examine its feasibility and acceptability among children with SM. Twenty children aged 6–12 with SM diagnosis were recruited and completed six therapist-guided VRET sessions. Parents and clinicians completed measures at pre-VRET, post-VRET, 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. At post-VRET, parent and child participants completed the acceptability questionnaires. Findings suggested the feasibility of VRET as all participants completed the programme with no attrition. Parents and child participants also reported VRET to be an acceptable and effective treatment for SM. Significant improvement in overall functioning were found at post-treatment and follow-up measures, but there were no significant changes in parent-rated speech frequency and anxiety measures. These support the acceptability of VRET as an adjunct modality (and not substitute) of CBT in SM treatment. Future studies, with more robust experimental designs and larger sample sizes, can be conducted to confirm its efficacy. As technology becomes more sophisticated, tools such as virtual environments can be explored to enhance evidence-based care for children and their families.

scholarly journals Predictors of Smoking Craving During Virtual Reality Exposure

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-434
Author(s):  
Marta Ferrer-García ◽  
Olaya García-Rodríguez ◽  
Irene Pericot-Valverde ◽  
Jin H. Yoon ◽  
Roberto Secades-Villa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Cue Reactivity ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure ◽  
Cue Exposure Treatment

Cue exposure treatment (CET) consists of controlled and repeated exposure to drug-related stimuli in order to reduce cue-reactivity. Virtual reality (VR) has proved to be a promising tool for exposition. However, identifying the variables that can modulate the efficacy of this technique is essential for selecting the most appropriate exposure modality. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between several individual variables and self-reported craving in smokers exposed to VR environments. Forty-six smokers were exposed to seven complex virtual environments that reproduce typical situations in which people smoke. Self-reported craving was selected as the criterion variable and three types of variables were selected as the predictor variables: related to nicotine dependence, related to anxiety and impulsivity, and related to the sense of presence in the virtual environments. Sense of presence was the only predictor of self-reported craving in all the experimental virtual environments. Nicotine dependence variables added predictive power to the model only in the virtual breakfast at home. No relation was found between anxiety or impulsivity and self-reported craving. Virtual reality technology can be very helpful for improving CET for substance use disorders. However, the use of virtual environments would make sense only insofar as the sense of presence was high. Otherwise, the effectiveness of exposure might be affected.

scholarly journals Cloud Based Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Service for Public Speaking Anxiety

Information ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justas Šalkevičius ◽  
Audronė Miškinytė ◽  
Lukas Navickas
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Public Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy ◽  
Skin Response ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure ◽  
Therapy Service

Public speaking anxiety is commonly treated using cognitive behavioral therapy. During the therapy session, the patient is either asked to vividly imagine and describe the feared stimulus or is confronted with it in the real world. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to imagine the object of fear or to create a controllable environment that contains this stimulus. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) can help solve these problems by placing the patient in a simulated 3D environment. While standalone VRET applications have been investigated for more than 25 years, we are analyzing the viability of a cloud-based VRET system. In this paper, we discuss the architectural and technical choices made in order to create a mobile and lightweight solution that can be easily adapted by any psychology clinic. Moreover, we are analyzing data gathered from 30 participants who have undergone a VRET session for public speaking anxiety. Finally, the collected psychophysiological signals including galvanic skin response (GSR) and skin temperature are processed and investigated in order to evaluate our cloud-based VRET system.

Three-Year Follow-Up for Virtual Reality Exposure for Fear of Flying

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda K. Wiederhold ◽  
Mark D. Wiederhold
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Fear Of Flying ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

scholarly journals Expositionstherapie mit Virtual Reality bei Blut-, Verletzungs- und Spritzenphobie. Eine Fallstudie

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Johannes Lanzinger ◽  
Julia Neukam ◽  
Christian Dingemann
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Fear Response ◽  
Blood Draw ◽  
Injection Injury ◽  
Blood Injection ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure ◽  
Relaxation Exercises

This case study describes the treatment of a patient with a blood-injection-injury type phobia including fainting and severe avoidance behavior, with the use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET). The patient has been treated over the course of 10 sessions. A variety of techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy such as psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation exercises and exposure therapy with pictures, videos and a Virtual Reality (VR) blood draw have been used. Results: Over the course of the treatment, the fear was significantly reduced leading to a successful blood draw two days after the last session. In the year following the treatment the patient did several successful blood draws, all without fainting and without a significant fear response.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Driving Phobia Disorder: System Design and Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 4860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Trappey ◽  
Charles V. Trappey ◽  
Chia-Ming Chang ◽  
Routine R.T. Kuo ◽  
Aislyn P.C. Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
System Integration ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

Driving phobia is an anxiety disorder. People are greatly impaired in their daily lives when suffering from driving phobia disorders. The anxieties can be triggered under various conditions, such as driving over bridges, driving at high speeds, or driving in close proximity to large trucks. Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are the most common approaches used in the treatment of psychological disorders, such as anxiety disorder (AD) and panic disorder (PD). This research focuses on virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy, called VRET, and describes the design and development of a system which uses alternating levels of fear-based driving scenarios that can be recorded and automatically adjusted to maximize exposure effectiveness without causing the subjects to panic. The proposed VRET integrates an advanced feedback database module for tracing and analyzing the system, along with the user’s bio-data to show the valid data collection of the system and its effectiveness for future use in clinical trials. The research conducts a system’s pre-test analysis using 31 subjects to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. This research demonstrates the systematic development of the VRET for driving phobia disorder by depicting the system framework, key system modules, system integration, bio-database management, and pre-test data analysis to support our next research efforts in hospital-based clinical trials and for additional VRET development applications for clinical psychology.

scholarly journals Changes in Brain Activation through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Exposure to Virtual Reality: A Neuroimaging Study of Specific Phobia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3505
Author(s):  
Yolanda Álvarez-Pérez ◽  
Francisco Rivero ◽  
Manuel Herrero ◽  
Conrado Viña ◽  
Ascensión Fumero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Activation ◽  
Specific Phobia ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Specific Phobias

Background: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobia. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has shown benefits for the treatment and prevention of the return of fear in specific phobias by addressing the therapeutic limitations of exposure to real images. Method: Thirty-one participants with specific phobias to small animals were included: 14 were treated with CBT + VRET (intervention group), and 17 were treated with CBT + exposure to real images (active control group). Participants’ scores in anxiety and phobia levels were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up, and brain activation was measured through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) baseline and post-treatment. Results: Both groups showed a significant decrease in anxiety and phobia scores after the therapy and were maintained until follow-up. There were no significant differences between both groups. Overall, fMRI tests showed a significant decrease in brain activity after treatment in some structures (e.g., prefrontal and frontal cortex) and other structures (e.g., precuneus) showed an increasing activity after therapy. However, structures such as the amygdala remained active in both groups. Conclusions: The efficacy of CBT + VRET was observed in the significant decrease in anxiety responses. However, the results of brain activity observed suggest that there was still a fear response in the brain, despite the significant decrease in subjective anxiety levels.

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