CBT Versus CBT Augmented With Virtual Reality Exposure for Social Anxiety Disorder.

Author(s):  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Rubin ◽  
Karl Muller ◽  
Mary Hayhoe ◽  
Michael J Telch

Biased attention to social threat has been implicated in social anxiety disorder. Modifying visual attention during exposure therapy offers a direct test of this mechanism. We developed and tested a brief virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) protocol using 360º-video and eye tracking. Participants (N = 21) were randomized to either standard VRET or VRET + attention guidance training (AGT). Multi-level Bayesian models were used to test (1) whether there was an effect of condition over time and (2) whether post-treatment changes in gaze patterns mediated the effect of condition at follow-up. There was a large overall effect of the intervention on symptoms of social anxiety, as well as an effect of the AGT augmentation on changes in visual attention to audience members. There was weak evidence against an effect of condition on fear of public speaking and weak evidence supporting a mediation effect, however these estimates were strongly influenced by model priors. Taken together, our findings suggest that attention can be modified within and during VRET and that modification of visual gaze avoidance may be casually linked to reductions in social anxiety. Replication with a larger sample size is needed.


Author(s):  
Pasquale Caponnetto ◽  
Sergio Triscari ◽  
Marilena Maglia ◽  
Maria C. Quattropani

(1) Background: With the term Virtual reality (VR) we refer to a three-dimensional environment generated by the computer, in which subjects interact with the environment as if they were really inside it. The most used VR tools are the so-called HMD (head-mounted display) which make it possible to achieve what theorists define “direct mediated action”. The aim of our systematic review is specifically to investigate the applications of virtual reality therapy for the treatment of social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. The most common treatment for social anxiety disorder is represented by “in vivo exposure therapy” (iVET). This method consists of exposing the participant, in a gradual and controlled way, to anxious stimuli, with the goal to change the subject’s response to the object or situation that is causing the fear. However, the main flaw of “in Vivo therapies” is represented by both the huge costs involved and the possible disturbance variables that can hinder the execution of the therapeutic treatment. Virtual reality exposure therapy could therefore, if confirmed in its effectiveness, constitute a solution to eliminate these two defects demonstrated by “in vivo exposure therapy”. The goal is to use VR as a means for the clinician to build a tailor-made path for the participant in order to make him acquire “in virtual” those skills necessary for a good adaptation in the “real” world. (2) Methods: From February 2021 until the date of submission of the article (September 2021), we conducted a systematic review aiming to verify the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for the treatment of SAD. (3) Results: We identified a total of 205 unique articles. Among these, 20 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 5 of these met the eligibility criteria and were, therefore, included in the final systematic review. (4) Conclusions: Virtual reality therapies proved to be a valid alternative to the acquisition of social skills suitable for improving the symptoms of SAD. Although there has not been a significant difference between VRET and iVET, the low costs and flexibility of VRET open up new scenarios for achieving greater psychophysical well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Ar. Fatahillah ◽  
Thomas Dicky Hastjarjo

Fobia sosial atau kecemasan sosial merupakan rasa takut yang berlebihan pada situasi sosial. Rasa takut ini terkadang menimbulkan permasalahan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perubahan tingkat fobia sosial dan respons fisiologis yang terjadi pada mahasiswa saat diberikan paparan/eksposur berupa social exposure lingkungan virtual. Hipotesis pada penelitian ini adalah terdapat pengaruh signifikan virtual reality exposure terhadap perubahan respons fisiologis dan tingkat fobia sosial pada mahasiswa pada kelompok yang diberi perlakuan. Metode penelitian menggunakan desain eksperimen pretest-posttest control design dengan rancangan penelitian berupa mixed design. Terdapat 41 partisipan yang memenuhi kriteria penelitian. Partisipan dibagi ke dalam kelompok eksperimen (n= 21) dan kelompok kontrol (n= 20). Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan terdiri dari skala Social Anxiety Disorder Dimensional (SAD-D) dan Self-Statements During Public Speaking (SSPS) serta Biofeedback Procomp5 Infiniti. Analisis data menggunakan teknik mixed ANOVA. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan simtom fobia sosial pada kelompok eksperimen secara tidak signifikan dan terjadi penurunan secara signifikan pada kelompok kontrol (p < 0,05). Implikasi dari penelitian ini diharapkan dapat memberikan informasi kepada penelitian selanjutnya dalam memberikan perlakuan pada partisipan yang mengalami kecemasan sosial dengan metode eksposur lingkungan virtual.


Author(s):  
Amanda A. Draheim ◽  
Page L. Anderson

AbstractA small body of research shows that the working alliance mediates the relation between outcome expectancy and treatment response, but this model has not been applied to the treatment of social anxiety disorder. The present study tests the hypothesis that the working alliance mediates the relation between outcome expectancy and symptom improvement within a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder. A sample of 54 individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder completed eight sessions of virtual reality exposure therapy or exposure group therapy. Participants completed standardized self-report measures of outcome expectancy at the first session, of the working alliance at each session, and three measures of social anxiety symptoms at pre- and post-treatment. The working alliance did not mediate the relation between outcome expectancy and symptom improvement across time points, dependent measures, and treatment type. Bayes factors were calculated for the relation between the working alliance and symptom reduction, while controlling for outcome expectancy and therapist effects. Results were inconclusive. These null findings are intriguing and urge further study of the mechanisms through which common factors relate to treatment response. Utilization of Bayesian analyses may help to clarify the nature of these relations.Key learning aims (1)Readers will consider the role of common factors in treatment for social anxiety disorder.(2)Readers will learn about how different common factors may interact with each other.(3)Readers will be encouraged to consider how the therapeutic relationship may manifest in a unique manner in treatment for social anxiety.


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