Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment in Phobias: a Systematic Review

AbstractWe compare the relative efficacy of virtual reality therapy exposure (VRET) versusin vivo therapy exposure among individuals suffering from phobias. A systematic search was completed up to 03 April 2020, using the following databases: ACM Digital Library, ResearchGate, IEEE, Science Direct, MIT PressJournals, Center for Direct Scientific Communication (CCSD) and Mary Ann Liebert Publishers. Five authors searched the databases using the following terms: Virtual Reality, Phobia, Mental health, Computing, Therapy, HMD, CAVE, Virtual ambient,in virtuo, Avoidance, Exposure, VRET, in vivo, Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, Stimuli, Cognitive –behaviour. All studies that evaluate the effect ofin virtuo exposure towards phobia rehabilitation were selected. By reviewing the article, each author then applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 30 articles were selected. Data extracted included the number of samples, amount of sessions, study variables that may affect the final outcome, therapy technology. The data provided was synthesized using a meta-analysis based on the results. The results demonstrated a positive outcome of Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment in the treatment of most phobias. In contrast, some of these treatments did not work for a few specific phobias in which the standard procedures were more effective. The findings suggest that for some specific phobias treatment, Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment does not reach thein vivo exposure level of im...
Source: Psychiatric Quarterly - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research