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Mazzolenis MV, Mourra GN, Moreau S, Mazzolenis ME, Cerda IH, Vega J, Khan JS, Thérond A. The Role of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Cognitive Pain Therapy: A Narrative Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2024:10.1007/s11916-024-01270-2. [PMID: 38850490 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-024-01270-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review investigates the roles of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) in enhancing cognitive pain therapy for chronic pain management. The work assesses current research, outlines benefits and limitations and examines their potential integration into existing pain management methods. RECENT FINDINGS Advances in VR have shown promise in chronic pain management through immersive cognitive therapy exercises, with evidence supporting VR's effectiveness in symptom reduction. AI's personalization of treatment plans and its support for mental health through AI-driven avatars are emerging trends. The integration of AI in hybrid programs indicates a future with real-time adaptive technology tailored to individual needs in chronic pain management. Incorporating AI and VR into chronic pain cognitive therapy represents a promising approach to enhance management by leveraging VR's immersive experiences and AI's personalized tactics, aiming to improve patient engagement and outcomes. Nonetheless, further empirical studies are needed to standardized methodologies, compare these technologies to traditional therapies and fully realize their clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabrielle Naime Mourra
- Department of Marketing, Haute Ecole de Commerce Montreal, Montreal, QC, H2X 3P2, Canada
| | - Sacha Moreau
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Emilia Mazzolenis
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Julio Vega
- Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James S Khan
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra Thérond
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec À Montréal, 100 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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Li YY, Peng J, Ping YY, Jia Jun W, Lu Y, Liu JJ, Xu SK, Guan LH, Huang D, Wang QB, Qian JY, Zhao ZX, Wei YB, Ge JB, Huang X. Virtual reality-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for the treatment of anxiety in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a randomised clinical trial. Gen Psychiatr 2024; 37:e101434. [PMID: 38645380 PMCID: PMC11029180 DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2023-101434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The presence of mental health conditions is pervasive in patients who experienced acute myocardial infarction (AMI), significantly disrupting their recovery. Providing timely and easily accessible psychological interventions using virtual reality-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (VR-CBT) could potentially improve both acute and long-term symptoms affecting their mental health. Aims We aim to examine the effectiveness of VR-CBT on anxiety symptoms in patients with AMI who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the acute stage of their illness. Methods In this single-blind randomised clinical trial, participants with anxiety symptoms who were admitted to the ICU due to AMI were continuously recruited from December 2022 to February 2023. Patients who were Han Chinese aged 18-75 years were randomly assigned (1:1) via block randomisation to either the VR-CBT group to receive VR-CBT in addition to standard mental health support, or the control group to receive standard mental health support only. VR-CBT consisted of four modules and was delivered at the bedside over a 1-week period. Assessments were done at baseline, immediately after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The intention-to-treat analysis began in June 2023. The primary outcome measure was the changes in anxiety symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Results Among 148 randomised participants, 70 were assigned to the VR-CBT group and 78 to the control group. The 1-week VR-CBT intervention plus standard mental health support significantly reduced the anxiety symptoms compared with standard mental health support alone in terms of HAM-A scores at both post intervention (Cohen's d=-1.27 (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.64 to -0.90, p<0.001) and 3-month follow-up (Cohen's d=-0.37 (95% CI: -0.72 to -0.01, p=0.024). Of the 70 participants who received VR-CBT, 62 (88.6%) completed the entire intervention. Cybersickness was the main reported adverse event (n=5). Conclusions Our results indicate that VR-CBT can significantly reduce post-AMI anxiety at the acute stage of the illness; the improvement was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Trial registration number The trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn with the identifier: ChiCTR2200066435.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yuan Li
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Peng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Yang Ping
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weng Jia Jun
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan'e Lu
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Jia Liu
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shi Kun Xu
- Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Hua Guan
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Bing Wang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ju Ying Qian
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze Xin Zhao
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Bin Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Bo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Mevlevioğlu D, Tabirca S, Murphy D. Real-Time Classification of Anxiety in Virtual Reality Therapy Using Biosensors and a Convolutional Neural Network. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:131. [PMID: 38534238 DOI: 10.3390/bios14030131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy is a method of cognitive behavioural therapy that aids in the treatment of anxiety disorders by making therapy practical and cost-efficient. It also allows for the seamless tailoring of the therapy by using objective, continuous feedback. This feedback can be obtained using biosensors to collect physiological information such as heart rate, electrodermal activity and frontal brain activity. As part of developing our objective feedback framework, we developed a Virtual Reality adaptation of the well-established emotional Stroop Colour-Word Task. We used this adaptation to differentiate three distinct levels of anxiety: no anxiety, mild anxiety and severe anxiety. We tested our environment on twenty-nine participants between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five. After analysing and validating this environment, we used it to create a dataset for further machine-learning classification of the assigned anxiety levels. To apply this information in real-time, all of our information was processed within Virtual Reality. Our Convolutional Neural Network was able to differentiate the anxiety levels with a 75% accuracy using leave-one-out cross-validation. This shows that our system can accurately differentiate between different anxiety levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Mevlevioğlu
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
| | - Sabin Tabirca
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
- Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Transylvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - David Murphy
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
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Ribé-Viñes JM, Gutiérrez-Maldonado J, Zabolipour Z, Ferrer-Garcia M. Virtual reality exposure with vibrotactile stimulation for the treatment of fear of flying: A pilot study. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2024; 82:101915. [PMID: 37862878 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Virtual reality (VR) interventions are becoming more prevalent in treating fear of flying (FoF). Since multisensory stimulation can enhance the sense of presence in a virtual environment, the present study compared virtual reality exposure with and without vibrotactile cues to determine its contribution to the realism of the virtual experience. METHODS A repeated measures design was used. Thirty-one participants were exposed to two experimental conditions with a minimum of a one-week interval between them: one in which participants were exposed to the virtual environment with vibrotactile cues (smart chair, SC), and another in which participants were exposed to the virtual environment without vibrotactile cues (ordinary chair, OC). The administration order of both conditions was counterbalanced to avoid possible order effects. RESULTS Participants felt higher levels of sense of presence when using the SC than the OC. However, the addition of vibrotactile stimulation partially influenced experienced anxiety. Some personality traits were also associated with participants' sense of presence and anxiety responses during the exposure. LIMITATIONS The sample size was smaller than required. Moreover, only self-reported measures were used. Finally, a roller coaster instead of an airplane scenario was used for the exposure, which might not have been suitable enough for provoking anxiety in participants with FoF. CONCLUSIONS Vibrotactile cues enhanced the sense of presence. However, the addition of vibrotactile stimulation did not have a consistent effect on anxiety experienced during exposure. Therefore, the benefits of incorporating vibrotactile cues in virtual reality environments for exposure therapy are not clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Ribé-Viñes
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - J Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Neuroscience Institute. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zahra Zabolipour
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Ferrer-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Neuroscience Institute. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Shahid S, Kelson J, Saliba A. Effectiveness and User Experience of Virtual Reality for Social Anxiety Disorder: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health 2024; 11:e48916. [PMID: 38329804 PMCID: PMC10884902 DOI: 10.2196/48916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects occupational and social functioning. Virtual reality (VR) therapies can provide effective treatment for people with SAD. However, with rapid innovations in immersive VR technology, more contemporary research is required to examine the effectiveness and concomitant user experience outcomes (ie, safety, usability, acceptability, and attrition) of emerging VR interventions for SAD. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness and user experience of contemporary VR interventions among people with SAD. METHODS The Cochrane Library, Emcare, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched between January 1, 2012, and April 26, 2022. Deduplicated search results were screened based on title and abstract information. Full-text examination was conducted on 71 articles. Studies of all designs and comparator groups were included if they appraised the effectiveness and user experience outcomes of any immersive VR intervention among people with SAD. A standardized coding sheet was used to extract data on key participant, intervention, comparator, outcome, and study design items. RESULTS The findings were tabulated and discussed using a narrative synthesis. A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS The findings showed that VR exposure therapy-based interventions can generally provide effective, safe, usable, and acceptable treatments for adults with SAD. The average attrition rate from VR treatment was low (11.36%) despite some reported user experience difficulties, including potential simulator sickness, exposure-based emotional distress, and problems with managing treatment delivered in a synchronous group setting. This review also revealed several research gaps, including a lack of VR treatment studies on children and adolescents with SAD as well as a paucity of standardized assessments of VR user experience interactions. More studies are required to address these issues. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022353891; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=353891.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Shahid
- Faculty of Business, Justice, and Behavioural Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
| | - Joshua Kelson
- Faculty of Business, Justice, and Behavioural Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
| | - Anthony Saliba
- Faculty of Business, Justice, and Behavioural Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
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Andersson J, Hallin J, Tingström A, Knutsson J. Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of spiders: an open trial and feasibility study of a new treatment for arachnophobia. Nord J Psychiatry 2024; 78:128-136. [PMID: 38295831 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2023.2279643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This analogue pilot study examined the feasibility (i.e. preliminary results, safety, acceptability) of a new single-session treatment for adults with a fear of spiders. MATERIALS It used state-of-the-art consumer available VR-hardware for therapist-assisted exposure (VRET-AP). The VRET-AP is largely adapted from Öst's one-session treatment for arachnophobia (Öst, 1987), with the aim of addressing shortcomings of previous VRET treatments, such as marked differences in procedures compared to available and evidence based in-vivo treatments. METHOD Participants (N = 12) were screened for fear of spiders using the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ), Fear Questionnaire (FQ) and the Behavioral Approach Test (BAT), prior to and directly after treatment in a repeated measures quasi-experimental design. In addition, acceptance and completion rates were measured and participants were interviewed about their experience of the treatment. Mean ratings as well as Reliable Change Index (RCI) for individual trajectories were analyzed. RESULTS The results from the preliminary data indicates potential for improvements with large effect sizes (d = 0.90-1,384) in all measurements of spider fear at post-treatment. Reliable Change Index (RCI) analysis showed that spider fear diminished in all twelve participants although the change was certain in only two. None deteriorated. All that responded accepted the treatment and all 11 participants completed all levels in the treatment. No concerns or adverse effects were reported in the interviews which largely confirm the quantitative results. CONCLUSION VRET-AP is a feasible alternative for delivering effective treatment for fear of spiders and the results motivate larger, randomized trials of VRET-AP involving participants diagnosed with arachnophobia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joel Hallin
- Department of Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Jens Knutsson
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Gomez Bergin AD, Allison AM, Hazell CM. Understanding Public Perceptions of Virtual Reality Psychological Therapy Using the Attitudes Towards Virtual Reality Therapy (AVRT) Scale: Mixed Methods Development Study. JMIR Ment Health 2024; 11:e48537. [PMID: 38214958 PMCID: PMC10818238 DOI: 10.2196/48537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) psychological therapy has the potential to increase access to evidence-based mental health interventions by automating their delivery while maintaining outcomes. However, it is unclear whether these more automated therapies are acceptable to potential users of mental health services. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to develop a new, validated questionnaire to measure public perceptions of VR therapy (VRT) guided by a virtual coach. We also aimed to explore these perceptions in depth and test how aspects such as familiarity with VR and mental health are associated with these perceptions, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. METHODS We used a cross-sectional mixed methods design and conducted an exploratory factor analysis of a questionnaire that we developed, the Attitudes Towards Virtual Reality Therapy (AVRT) Scale, and a qualitative content analysis of the data collected through free-text responses during completion of the questionnaire. RESULTS We received 295 responses and identified 4 factors within the AVRT Scale, including attitudes toward VRT, expectation of presence, preference for VRT, and cost-effectiveness. We found that being more familiar with VR was correlated with more positive attitudes toward VRT (factor 1), a higher expectation of presence (factor 2), a preference for VRT over face-to-face therapy (factor 3), and a belief that VRT is cost-effective (factor 4). Qualitative data supported the factors we identified and indicated that VRT is acceptable when delivered at home and guided by a virtual coach. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to validate a scale to explore attitudes toward VRT guided by a virtual coach. Our findings indicate that people are willing to try VRT, particularly because it offers increased access and choice, and that as VR becomes ubiquitous, they will also have positive attitudes toward VRT. Future research should further validate the AVRT Scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aislinn D Gomez Bergin
- National Institute of Health and Care Research MindTech MedTech Co-operative, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Aoife M Allison
- Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Cassie M Hazell
- Department of Psychological Interventions, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guilford, United Kingdom
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Donker T, Fehribach J, van Klaveren C, Cornelisz I, Toffolo MBJ, van Straten A, van Gelder JL. Automated mobile virtual reality cognitive behavior therapy for aviophobia in a natural setting: a randomized controlled trial. Psychol Med 2023; 53:6232-6241. [PMID: 36426618 PMCID: PMC10520596 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722003531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to evidence-based psychological treatment is a challenge worldwide. We assessed the effectiveness of a fully automated aviophobia smartphone app treatment delivered in combination with a $5 virtual reality (VR) viewer. METHODS In total, 153 participants from the Dutch general population with aviophobia symptoms and smartphone access were randomized in a single-blind randomized controlled trial to either an automated VR cognitive behavior therapy (VR-CBT) app treatment condition (n = 77) or a wait-list control condition (n = 76). The VR-CBT app was delivered over a 6-week period in the participants' natural environment. Online self-report assessments were completed at baseline, post-treatment, at 3-month and at 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the Flight Anxiety Situations Questionnaire (FAS). Analyses were based on intent-to-treat. RESULTS A significant reduction of aviophobia symptoms at post-test for the VR-CBT app compared with the control condition [p < 0.001; d = 0. 98 (95% CI 0.65-1.32)] was demonstrated. The dropout rate was 21%. Results were maintained at 3-month follow-up [within-group d = 1.14 (95% CI 0.46-1.81)] and at 12-month follow-up [within-group d = 1.12 (95% CI 0.46-1.79)]. Six participants reported adverse effects of cyber sickness symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to show that fully automated mobile VR-CBT therapy delivered in a natural setting can maintain long-term effectiveness in reducing aviophobia symptoms. In doing so, it offers an accessible and scalable evidence-based treatment solution that can be applied globally at a fraction of the cost of current treatment alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Donker
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Albert Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württenberg, Germany
| | - J.R. Fehribach
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - C. van Klaveren
- Department of Education Sciences, Section Methods and Statistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics (ACLA), Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - I. Cornelisz
- Department of Education Sciences, Section Methods and Statistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics (ACLA), Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - M. B. J. Toffolo
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - A. van Straten
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - J.-L. van Gelder
- Department of Criminology, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württenberg, Germany
- Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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Scheveneels S, De Witte N, Van Daele T. The first steps in facing your fears: The acceptability of virtual reality and in vivo exposure treatment for specific fears. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 95:102695. [PMID: 36921510 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Phobic individuals are often reluctant to engage in exposure in vivo (IVE). We examined whether providing exposure in virtual reality (VRE) can increase the acceptability. In Study 1, we provided 186 fearful participants with (hypothetical) VRE and IVE treatment offers and examined their willingness to engage in treatment, estimated success, negative beliefs, acceptance/refusal and their preference. Almost 70 % preferred VRE over IVE and acceptance rates were higher for the VRE offer (58 %) than for IVE (35 %). Although participants held fewer negative beliefs about VRE, they did rate IVE as slightly more successful. In Study 2, we examined whether VRE can serve as a stepping stone to IVE in a sample of 102 spider fearful individuals. Willingness to engage, estimated success and negative beliefs about IVE were assessed before and after VRE. After VRE, participants rated IVE as more successful, but were not more willing to engage in IVE, nor were they more inclined to accept an IVE offer. No decreases in negative beliefs were observed. In conclusion, VRE is deemed more acceptable than IVE and could lower refusal rates, hereby resulting in more phobic individuals receiving treatment. Future research should shed light on underlying motivations and associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Scheveneels
- Center for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Clinical Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
| | - Nele De Witte
- Expertise Unit Psychology, Technology & Society, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Daele
- Center for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Expertise Unit Psychology, Technology & Society, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
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Hamlett GE, Foa EB, Brown LA. Exposure Therapy and Its Mechanisms. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:273-288. [PMID: 37532963 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Exposure therapy is the gold-standard treatment approach for pathological anxiety. This therapeutic approach builds on principles of extinction training from traditional fear conditioning and extinction protocols. In this chapter, we discuss principles of exposure therapy in the clinic and the laboratory experimental results that guide our decisions in the therapy. We discuss emotional processing theory and inhibitory learning principles, with a focus on expectation violation. We conclude with future research directions needed to improve exposure therapy outcomes among patients with anxiety-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella E Hamlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edna B Foa
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lily A Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Tsamitros N, Beck A, Sebold M, Schouler-Ocak M, Bermpohl F, Gutwinski S. [The application of virtual reality in the treatment of mental disorders]. DER NERVENARZT 2023; 94:27-33. [PMID: 36053303 PMCID: PMC9859917 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-022-01378-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) enables immersion in an interactive digital world with realistic experiences, that can be applied for controlled and personalized interventions. This review summarizes the current research on VR in the treatment of mental disorders. METHODS Selective literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS An increasing number of publications report the therapeutic application of VR for the treatment of mental disorders. Most VR applications are based on established therapy approaches, such as exposure therapy. According to meta-analytic data, virtual exposure therapy (VRET) for specific phobia and agoraphobia with panic disorder is as effective as traditional in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of social phobia is significantly more effective than waitlist and placebo control groups with, however, currently inconsistent metanalytic results when compared to in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is similar in effectiveness compared to active psychotherapy. For psychosis, positive results have been reported for the VR-based treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations. For patients with a substance use disorder, VR can induce craving, with still unverified diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. CONCLUSIONS VRET can broaden the psychotherapy options for anxiety disorders. Encouraging results of VR-based treatments for psychosis and PTSD indicate the need for further research concerning its effectiveness and safety. In the field of substance use disorders, evaluation of clinical-orientated VR applications is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Tsamitros
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56–58, 13349 Berlin, Deutschland ,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland ,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - A. Beck
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland ,Fakultät Gesundheit, Health and Medical University, Campus Potsdam, Potsdam, Deutschland
| | - M. Sebold
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - M. Schouler-Ocak
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56–58, 13349 Berlin, Deutschland ,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - F. Bermpohl
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56–58, 13349 Berlin, Deutschland ,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - S. Gutwinski
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56–58, 13349 Berlin, Deutschland ,Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland
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12
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Heo S, Park JH. Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Graded Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15911. [PMID: 36497989 PMCID: PMC9735589 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies reported that virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy (VRET) was a clinically beneficial intervention for specific phobias. However, among VRET, VR-based graded exposure therapy (VR-GET) is little known about its efficacy on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Therefore, this meta-analysis investigated the effects of VR-GET for PTSD symptoms. A literature search yielded seven randomized controlled trials. The differences between conditions regarding the primary outcome of PTSD symptoms in the effect size of the individual study were calculated using Hedges' g. The findings showed VR-GET showed a significantly larger effect size for PTSD symptoms (g = 1.100, p = 0.001), compared to controls. However, no significant difference between conventional VRET and controls was found for PTSD symptoms (g = -0.279, p = 0.970). These findings indicated the superiority of VR-GET for PTSD symptoms compared to controls, supporting the importance of immersive PTSD treatments. Nevertheless, the results need to be interpreted with caution due to the substantial number of military service personnel studies. Future trials, considering individually tailored scenarios in virtual environments to cover a wider range of trauma types, are required to investigate its evidence on treating PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyoon Heo
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medical and Health Science, Kyungbok University, Namyangju-si 42517, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hyuck Park
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan-si 31538, Republic of Korea
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13
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Miegel F, Bücker L, Kühn S, Mostajeran F, Moritz S, Baumeister A, Lohse L, Blömer J, Grzella K, Jelinek L. Exposure and Response Prevention in Virtual Reality for Patients with Contamination-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Case Series. Psychiatr Q 2022; 93:861-882. [PMID: 35779165 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-022-09992-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Exposure therapy in virtual reality is successful in treating anxiety disorders. Studies on exposure and response prevention in virtual reality (VERP) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are rare, and it is unclear whether distress associated with other emotions than anxiety (e.g., disgust) can be evoked. The present study aimed to investigate whether distress can be induced during VERP in patients with contamination-related OCD (C-OCD) and a primary feeling of disgust. We treated eight female patients with C-OCD with the primary emotion of disgust over six weeks with VERP and assessed their OC symptoms before and after the intervention period with the Y-BOCS. We measured subjective units of distress (SUD), heart rate and skin conductivity (arousal), sense of presence, and simulator sickness during four consecutive exposure sessions. VERP was able to induce distress and arousal. The qualitative feedback was heterogeneous and sense of presence moderate. Patients' OC symptoms reduced over the treatment period with medium to large effect sizes, but only two patients were considered responders; two patients discontinued treatment due to lack of treatment success. Although VERP was able to induce distress and arousal associated with disgust and evoked a moderate sense of presence, the low rate of symptom reduction diminishes the positive results. Possible reasons for the heterogeneous results and implications are discussed. Trial registration: German Registry for Clinical Studies (DRKS00016929), 10.04.2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Miegel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Lara Bücker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fariba Mostajeran
- Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, Vogt-Kölln-Strasse 30, 22527, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Moritz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Baumeister
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luzie Lohse
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jannik Blömer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karsten Grzella
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lena Jelinek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Tao K, Huang Y, Shen Y, Sun L. Automated Stress Recognition Using Supervised Learning Classifiers by Interactive Virtual Reality Scenes. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2022; 30:2060-2066. [PMID: 35857724 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2022.3192571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) technology offers a great opportunity to explore stress disorder therapies. We created a VR stress training system, which incorporates three highly interactive stressful scenes to elicit stress, and demonstrate the concurrent variations between physiological data (heart rate, electrodermal activity and eye-blink rate) and self-reported stress ratings through a self-designed customized perceived stress questionnaire (SSAI) and wearable devices. Several supervised learning models were rigorously applied to automate stress recognition. Our findings include the evaluations of the VR system by computing Cronbach's alpha ( α = 0.72 ) and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient ( η = 0.78 ) through a retrospective survey, which were subsequently confirmed as reliable on four aspects (sense of presence, sense of space, sense of immersion and sense of reality) via factor analysis. Additionally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of physiology-based stress level classification (no stress, low stress and high stress) and continuous SSAI score prediction, with accuracy reaching 0.742 by bagging ensemble learning model and goodness-of-fit reaching 0.44 via multivariate stepwise regression. This study provides detailed insight regarding the effect of objective physiological measures on the validation of subjective self-ratings under a novel complex VR stress training system, which stimulates the further investigations of stress disorder recognition and treatment.
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15
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Martingano AJ, Brown E, Telaak SH, Dolwick AP, Persky S. Cybersickness Variability by Race: Findings From 6 Studies and a Mini Meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e36843. [PMID: 35648477 PMCID: PMC9201708 DOI: 10.2196/36843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the influx of medical virtual reality (VR) technologies, cybersickness has transitioned from a nuisance experienced during leisure activities to a potential safety and efficacy concern for patients and clinicians. To improve health equity, it is important to understand any potential differences in cybersickness propensity among demographic groups, including racial groups. Objective This study aims to explore whether cybersickness propensity differs across racial groups. Methods We collected self-reported cybersickness ratings from 6 racially diverse independent samples within 1 laboratory group (N=931). In these studies, the participants were asked to perform tasks in VR such as traversing environments, pointing at and selecting objects, and interacting with virtual humans. Results Significant racial differences in cybersickness were found in 50% (3/6) of studies. A mini meta-analysis revealed that, on average, Black participants reported approximately one-third of SD less cybersickness than White participants (Cohen d=−0.31; P<.001), regardless of the nature of the VR experience. There was no overall difference in reported cybersickness between the Asian and White participants (Cohen d=−0.11; P=.51). Conclusions Racial differences in cybersickness indicate that researchers, practitioners, and regulators should consider patient demographics when evaluating VR health intervention outcomes. These findings lay the groundwork for future studies that may explore racial differences in cybersickness directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Jane Martingano
- Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ellenor Brown
- Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sydney H Telaak
- Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alexander P Dolwick
- Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Susan Persky
- Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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16
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Planert J, Machulska A, Hildebrand AS, Roesmann K, Otto E, Klucken T. Self-guided digital treatment with virtual reality for panic disorder and agoraphobia: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2022; 23:426. [PMID: 35597959 PMCID: PMC9123669 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive behavioral therapy is the first-line treatment for patients with panic disorder (PD) and agoraphobia (AG). Yet, many patients remain untreated due to limited treatment resources. Digital self-guided short-term treatment applications may help to overcome this issue. While some therapeutic applications are already supported by health insurance companies, data on their efficacy is limited. The current study investigates the effect of self-guided digital treatment comprising psychoeducation and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). Methods Thirty patients diagnosed with PD, AG, or panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). Participants of both groups will undergo baseline diagnostics in the first two sessions. The subsequent treatment for the EG consists of a self-guided 6-week phase of application-based psychoeducation, one therapy session preparing for the VRET, and 4 weeks of application-based self-guided VRET. To control for the potential effects of the therapy session with the therapist, the CG will receive relaxation and stress-reduction training instead. All patients will then undergo a closing session which terminates with the post-assessment (~ 10 weeks after baseline assessment) and a follow-up assessment 6 weeks following the closing session. Symptom severity (primary outcome) will be assessed at baseline, interim, post-treatment, and follow-up. Additionally, remission status (secondary outcome) will be obtained at follow-up. Both measures will be compared between the groups. Discussion The current study aims at providing insights into the efficacy of short-term treatment applications including psychoeducation and self-guided VRET. If successful, this approach might be a feasible and promising way to ease the burden of PD, AG, and PDA on the public health system and contribute to a faster access to treatment. Trial registration ISRCTN ISRCTN10661970. Prospectively registered on 17 January 2022. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06366-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jari Planert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany.
| | - Alla Machulska
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany
| | - Anne-Sophie Hildebrand
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany
| | - Kati Roesmann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany
| | - Esra Otto
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany
| | - Tim Klucken
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Obergraben 23, 57072, Siegen, Germany
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17
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Philippe TJ, Sikder N, Jackson A, Koblanski ME, Liow E, Pilarinos A, Vasarhelyi K. Digital Health Interventions for Delivery of Mental Health Care: Systematic and Comprehensive Meta-Review. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e35159. [PMID: 35551058 PMCID: PMC9109782 DOI: 10.2196/35159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted mental health care delivery to digital platforms, videoconferencing, and other mobile communications. However, existing reviews of digital health interventions are narrow in scope and focus on a limited number of mental health conditions. OBJECTIVE To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive systematic meta-review of the literature to assess the state of digital health interventions for the treatment of mental health conditions. METHODS We searched MEDLINE for secondary literature published between 2010 and 2021 on the use, efficacy, and appropriateness of digital health interventions for the delivery of mental health care. RESULTS Of the 3022 records identified, 466 proceeded to full-text review and 304 met the criteria for inclusion in this study. A majority (52%) of research involved the treatment of substance use disorders, 29% focused on mood, anxiety, and traumatic stress disorders, and >5% for each remaining mental health conditions. Synchronous and asynchronous communication, computerized therapy, and cognitive training appear to be effective but require further examination in understudied mental health conditions. Similarly, virtual reality, mobile apps, social media platforms, and web-based forums are novel technologies that have the potential to improve mental health but require higher quality evidence. CONCLUSIONS Digital health interventions offer promise in the treatment of mental health conditions. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health interventions provide a safer alternative to face-to-face treatment. However, further research on the applications of digital interventions in understudied mental health conditions is needed. Additionally, evidence is needed on the effectiveness and appropriateness of digital health tools for patients who are marginalized and may lack access to digital health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan J Philippe
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Anna Jackson
- School of Social Work, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maya E Koblanski
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric Liow
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Andreas Pilarinos
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Krisztina Vasarhelyi
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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18
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Elphinston RA, Vaezipour A, Fowler JA, Russell TG, Sterling M. Psychological therapy using virtual reality for treatment of driving phobia: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 45:1582-1594. [PMID: 35532316 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2069293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Driving phobia is prevalent in injured individuals following motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). The evidence for virtual reality (VR) based psychological treatments for driving phobia is unknown. This systematic review synthesized the available evidence on the effectiveness, feasibility, and user experience of psychological treatments for driving phobia using VR. METHODS Three databases (PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and PubMed) were searched. Eligibility criteria included adults with clinical or sub-clinical levels of driving phobia manifesting as part of an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Primary outcomes were driving-related anxiety/fear or avoidance, PTSD symptoms and driving frequency/intensity, as well as treatment feasibility including recruitment, treatment completion and retention rates, user experience and immersion/presence in the VR program. Secondary outcomes were other health outcomes (e.g., depression) and VR technological features. RESULTS The 14 included studies were of low methodological quality. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity prevented quantitative pooling of data. The evidence provided in this review is limited by trials with small sample sizes, and lack of diagnostic clarity, controlled designs, and long-term assessment. The evidence did suggest that VR-based psychological interventions could be feasible and acceptable in this population. CONCLUSIONS For VR-based psychological interventions to be recommended for driving phobia, more high-quality trials are needed. Implications for rehabilitationVirtual reality (VR) based psychological treatments may be feasible and acceptable to patients with driving phobia.There is potential to increase accessibility to psychological therapies in patients with driving phobia following motor vehicle crashes through the use of digital psychiatry such as VR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Elphinston
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Road Traffic Injury Recovery, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Atiyeh Vaezipour
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - James A Fowler
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Trevor G Russell
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michele Sterling
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Road Traffic Injury Recovery, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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19
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Future-oriented imagery rescripting facilitates conducting behavioral experiments in social anxiety. Behav Res Ther 2022; 155:104130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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20
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Ong T, Wilczewski H, Soni H, Nisbet Q, Paige SR, Barrera JF, Welch BM, Bunnell BE. The Symbiosis of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and Telemental Health: A Review. FRONTIERS IN VIRTUAL REALITY 2022; 3:848066. [PMID: 37483657 PMCID: PMC10361704 DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2022.848066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Phobias and related anxiety are common and costly mental health disorders. Experts anticipate the prevalence of phobias will increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure therapies have been established as effective and reliable treatments for anxiety, including recent innovations in virtual reality-based exposure therapy (VRET). With the recent advent of telemental health (TMH), VRET is poised to become mainstream. The combination of VRET and TMH has the potential to extend provider treatment options and improve patient care experiences. In this narrative review, we describe how recent events have accelerated VRET + TMH, identify barriers to VRET + TMH implementation, and discuss strategies to navigate those barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triton Ong
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Hiral Soni
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Quinn Nisbet
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Janelle F. Barrera
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Public Health and Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Brandon M. Welch
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
- Innovation in Mental Health Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Brian E. Bunnell
- Doxy.me Research, Doxy.me Inc., Rochester, NY, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Public Health and Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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21
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O'Gara G, Murray L, Georgopoulou S, Anstiss T, Macquarrie A, Wheatstone P, Bellman B, Gilbert P, Steed A, Wiseman T. SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting? BMJ Open 2022; 12:e047626. [PMID: 35144943 PMCID: PMC8845220 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The SafeSpace study codesigned and tested a virtual reality (VR) intervention, incorporating relaxation and compassionate mind training to determine acceptability/feasibility in an oncology setting and evaluate impact on physical/psychological well-being and quality of life. DESIGN A two-phase study. Phase I determined key characteristics using an experienced-based codesign approach. Phase II evaluated the intervention using various measures and qualitative interviews in a mixed methods approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse measures data and framework analysis to analyse interviews. SETTING A specialist cancer centre, UK. PARTICIPANTS 11 in phase I and 21 in phase II. Participants were in cancer treatment, recovery or palliative care. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME Primary outcome: acceptability of the intervention, assessed by >60% uptake of three sessions. SECONDARY OUTCOMES impact on psychological well-being using EQ-5D/QLQ-C30, Profile of Mood Scale, Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Depression and Anxiety Severity Scale 21, Self-Compassion Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and a locally developed questionnaire to capture self-compassion post use. Physiological impact was assessed by change in heart rate (HR)/HR variability and electrodermal activity (EDA). RESULTS Twenty participants (mean age=48.7 years; SD=16.87); 65% (n=13) completed three sessions. Mental well-being improved following each use and from baseline to after session 3 (VR 1-z=2.846, p≤0.01; VR 2-z=2.501, p≤0.01; VR 3-z=2.492, p≤0.01). There was statistically significant difference in mean scores for EDA at mid-session and post session compared with pre session (F (1.658, 4.973)=13.364, p<0.05). There was statistically significant reduction in stress levels from baseline to post session 3. Participants found the intervention acceptable and highlighted areas for development. CONCLUSION The intervention is acceptable and feasible and has shown positive effects on mental well-being/stress in the oncology setting. Larger studies are needed to confirm findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine O'Gara
- Applied Health Research, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Geraldine.O'
| | - Lisa Murray
- Department of Research and Innovation, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew Macquarrie
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Pete Wheatstone
- Patient and Public Representative, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Barbie Bellman
- Patient and Public Representative, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paul Gilbert
- Mental Health Research Unit, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, Derbyshire, UK
| | - Anthony Steed
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Theresa Wiseman
- Applied Health Research, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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22
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van Loenen I, Scholten W, Muntingh A, Smit J, Batelaan N. The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Severe Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e26736. [PMID: 35142632 PMCID: PMC8874794 DOI: 10.2196/26736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, virtual reality exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (VRE-CBT) has shown good treatment results in (subclinical) anxiety disorders and seems to be a good alternative to exposure in vivo in regular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, previous meta-analyses on the efficacy of VRE-CBT on anxiety disorders have included studies on specific phobias and subthreshold anxiety; therefore, these results may not be generalizable to patients with more severe and disabling anxiety disorders. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study is to determine the efficacy of VRE-CBT on more severe anxiety disorders, excluding specific phobias and subthreshold anxiety disorders. Meta-analyses will be conducted to examine the efficacy of VRE-CBT versus waitlist and regular CBT. Our secondary objectives are to examine whether the efficacy differs according to the type of anxiety disorder, type of recruitment, and type of VRE-CBT (virtual reality exposure either with or without regular CBT). Furthermore, attrition in VRE-CBT and CBT will be compared. METHODS Studies published until August 20, 2020, were retrieved through systematic literature searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase. We calculated the effect sizes (Hedges g) for the difference between the conditions and their 95% CIs for posttest and follow-up measurements in a random effects model. A separate meta-analysis was performed to compare attrition between the VRE-CBT and CBT conditions. RESULTS A total of 16 trials with 817 participants were included. We identified 10 comparisons between VRE-CBT and a waitlist condition and 13 comparisons between VRE-CBT and a CBT condition. With regard to risk of bias, information on random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and risk of bias for selective outcome reporting was often absent or unclear. The mean effect size of VRE-CBT compared with waitlist (nco=10) was medium and significant, favoring VRE-CBT (Hedges g=-0.490, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.16; P=.003). The mean effect size of VRE-CBT compared with CBT (nco=13) was small and nonsignificant, favoring CBT (Hedges g=0.083, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.30; P=.45). The dropout rates between VRE-CBT and CBT (nco=10) showed no significant difference (odds ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.49-1.27; P=.32). There were no indications of small study effects or publication bias. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study show that VRE-CBT is more effective than waitlist and as effective as CBT in the treatment of more severe anxiety disorders. Therefore, VRE-CBT may be considered a promising alternative to CBT for patients with more severe anxiety disorders. Higher-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to verify the robustness of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge van Loenen
- GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Willemijn Scholten
- GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anna Muntingh
- GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Johannes Smit
- GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Neeltje Batelaan
- GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Virtual Reality Aided Therapy towards Health 4.0: A Two-Decade Bibliometric Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031525. [PMID: 35162546 PMCID: PMC8834834 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Health 4.0 aligns with Industry 4.0 and encourages the application of the latest technologies to healthcare. Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially significant component of the Health 4.0 vision. Though VR in health care is a popular topic, there is little knowledge of VR-aided therapy from a macro perspective. Therefore, this paper was aimed to explore the research of VR in aiding therapy, thus providing a potential guideline for futures application of therapeutic VR in healthcare towards Health 4.0. A mixed research method was adopted for this research, which comprised the use of a bibliometric analysis (a quantitative method) to conduct a macro overview of VR-aided therapy, the identification of significant research structures and topics, and a qualitative review of the literature to reveal deeper insights. Four major research areas of VR-aided therapy were identified and investigated, i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and fear related disorder (A&F), diseases of the nervous system (DNS), and pain management, including related medical conditions, therapies, methods, and outcomes. This study is the first to use VOSviewer, a commonly used software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks and developed by Center for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, the Netherlands, to conduct bibliometric analyses on VR-aided therapy from the perspective of Web of Science core collection (WoSc), which objectively and visually shows research structures and topics, therefore offering instructive insights for health care stakeholders (particularly researchers and service providers) such as including integrating more innovative therapies, emphasizing psychological benefits, using game elements, and introducing design research. The results of this paper facilitate with achieving the vision of Health 4.0 and illustrating a two-decade (2000 to year 2020) map of pre-life of the Health Metaverse.
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Chung OS, Johnson AM, Dowling NL, Robinson T, Ng CH, Yücel M, Segrave RA. Are Australian Mental Health Services Ready for Therapeutic Virtual Reality? An Investigation of Knowledge, Attitudes, Implementation Barriers and Enablers. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:792663. [PMID: 35185649 PMCID: PMC8854652 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.792663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) has the potential to address the challenges of equitable delivery of evidence-based psychological treatment. However, little is known about therapeutic VR regarding the perspectives and needs of real-world service providers. This exploratory study aimed to assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of therapeutic VR among clinicians, managers, and service staff working in mental healthcare and explore potential implementation barriers and enablers. Eighty-one staff from a network of private psychiatric hospitals in Victoria, Australia (aged M + SD: 41.88 + 12.01 years, 71.6% female; 64% clinical staff) completed an online survey, which included the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Appropriateness of Intervention Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). While 91% of participants had heard about VR technology, only 40% of participants had heard of therapeutic VR being used in mental healthcare, and none had used therapeutic VR in a clinical setting. Most participants perceived VR to be acceptable (84%), appropriate (69%), and feasible (59%) to implement within their role or service and envisioned a range of possible applications. However, participants expressed concerns regarding safety, efficacy, and logistical challenges across clinical settings. Findings suggest a strong interest for therapeutic VR among Australian mental health providers working in the private system. However, dissemination efforts should focus on addressing identified barriers to ensure mental health providers are adequately informed and empowered to make implementation decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Chung
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alisha M Johnson
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nathan L Dowling
- Professorial Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tracy Robinson
- School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Chee H Ng
- Professorial Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Murat Yücel
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Segrave
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Rowland DP, Casey LM, Ganapathy A, Cassimatis M, Clough BA. A Decade in Review: A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Interventions for Emotional Disorders. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION = INTERVENCION PSICOSOCIAL 2022; 31:1-20. [PMID: 37362616 PMCID: PMC10268557 DOI: 10.5093/pi2021a8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale P. Rowland
- Griffith UniversityQueenslandAustraliaGriffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Menzies Health InstituteQueenslandAustraliaMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia
| | - Leanne M. Casey
- Griffith UniversityQueenslandAustraliaGriffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Menzies Health InstituteQueenslandAustraliaMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia
| | - Aarthi Ganapathy
- Griffith UniversityQueenslandAustraliaGriffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Menzies Health InstituteQueenslandAustraliaMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia
| | - Mandy Cassimatis
- Griffith UniversityQueenslandAustraliaGriffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Menzies Health InstituteQueenslandAustraliaMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia
| | - Bonnie A. Clough
- Griffith UniversityQueenslandAustraliaGriffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Menzies Health InstituteQueenslandAustraliaMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Australia
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Riva G. Virtual Reality in Clinical Psychology. COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [PMCID: PMC7500920 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Landkroon E, van Dis EAM, Meyerbröker K, Salemink E, Hagenaars MA, Engelhard IM. Future-Oriented Positive Mental Imagery Reduces Anxiety for Exposure to Public Speaking. Behav Ther 2022; 53:80-91. [PMID: 35027160 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Exposure therapy is the recommended treatment for anxiety disorders, but many anxious individuals are unwilling to expose themselves to feared situations. Episodic simulation of future situations contributes to adaptive emotion regulation and motivates behavior. This study investigated whether future-oriented positive mental imagery reduces anticipatory anxiety and distress during exposure, and increases exposure willingness and duration. Forty-three individuals with moderate public speaking anxiety were randomized to a standardized positive mental imagery exercise about future public speaking or no-task. All participants were then asked to present in a virtual reality environment. Anticipatory anxiety reduced in the positive mental imagery group, but not in the control group. Additionally, the positive mental imagery group reported lower distress during exposure than the control group, but groups did not differ in exposure willingness. Due to limited variance, effects on exposure duration could not be tested. Future-oriented positive mental imagery is promising to prepare individuals for exposure to previously avoided situations.
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Bettis AH, Burke TA, Nesi J, Liu RT. Digital Technologies for Emotion-Regulation Assessment and Intervention: A Conceptual Review. Clin Psychol Sci 2022; 10:3-26. [PMID: 35174006 PMCID: PMC8846444 DOI: 10.1177/21677026211011982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The ability to regulate emotions in response to stress is central to healthy development. While early research in emotion regulation predominantly employed static, self-report measurement, the past decade has seen a shift in focus toward understanding the dynamic nature of regulation processes. This is reflected in recent refinements in the definition of emotion regulation, which emphasize the importance of the ability to flexibly adapt regulation efforts across contexts. The latest proliferation of digital technologies employed in mental health research offers the opportunity to capture the state- and context-sensitive nature of emotion regulation. In this conceptual review, we examine the use of digital technologies (ecological momentary assessment; wearable and smartphone technology, physical activity, acoustic data, visual data, and geo-location; smart home technology; virtual reality; social media) in the assessment of emotion regulation and describe their application to interventions. We also discuss challenges and ethical considerations, and outline areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Richard T Liu
- Harvard Medical School
- Massachusetts General Hospital
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Shin B, Oh J, Kim BH, Kim HE, Kim H, Kim S, Kim JJ. Effectiveness of Self-Guided Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e30590. [PMID: 34813486 PMCID: PMC8663599 DOI: 10.2196/30590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) is as effective a technique as traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a promising tool for treating panic disorder symptoms because VR exposure can be safer and has better acceptability than in vivo exposure and is more immersive than exposure through imagination. CBT techniques can be delivered more effectively using VR as well. So far, VR has required high-quality devices, but the development of mobile VR technology has improved user availability. At the same time, a well-structured form of VR can be reproduced and used anywhere. This means that VR can be used to provide a self-guided form of treatment and address the high treatment costs of evidence-based therapy and the lack of professional therapists. This study aimed to investigate the potential of self-guided VR as an alternative to high-cost treatment. OBJECTIVE The main goal of this study was to offer data about the efficacy of a mobile app-based self-led VR CBT in the treatment of panic disorder. METHODS A total of 54 subjects with panic disorder were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to either the VR treatment group or waitlist group. The VR treatment was designed to be total 12 sessions for 4 weeks. The VR treatment consists of 4 steps in which patients are gradually exposed to phobic stimuli while learning to cope with panic symptoms in each stage. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed through the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Body Sensations Questionnaire, Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Korean Inventory of Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Korean Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, and Perceived Stress Scale. In addition, physiological changes using heart rate variability were evaluated. RESULTS In within-group analyses, the VR treatment group exhibited improvements in panic disorder symptoms, anxiety, and depression after 4 weeks, while the waitlist group did not show any significant improvement. Compared to the waitlist group, the VR treatment group showed significantly greater improvements in the Panic Disorder Severity Scale in both completer analysis and intention-to-treat analysis. Heart rate variability in the VR treatment group showed improvement in normalized high frequency from baseline to postassessment with no significant differences in any outcome measure between groups. CONCLUSIONS The self-guided, mobile app-based VR intervention was effective in the treatment of panic symptoms and restoring the autonomic nervous system demonstrating the validity of the use of VR for self-guided treatment. VR treatment can be a cost-effective therapeutic approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04985019; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04985019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bokyoung Shin
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jooyoung Oh
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Hoon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hesun Erin Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunji Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suji Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Vincent C, Eberts M, Naik T, Gulick V, O’Hayer CV. Provider experiences of virtual reality in clinical treatment. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259364. [PMID: 34714889 PMCID: PMC8555834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Virtual reality (VR) has proven effective in the treatment of specific phobias and trauma particularly when in-vivo exposure therapy might be costly (e.g. fear of flying, combat scenes). Similarly, VR has been associated with improvement of chronic pain and of acute pain during medical procedures. Despite its effectiveness as a healthcare tool, VR technology is not well-integrated into common practice. This qualitative study aims to explore the provider perception of the value of VR and identify barriers to VR implementation among healthcare providers. Methods A 66-item self-report survey was created to examine application of VR to clinical practice, perceived value of this treatment, ease of learning the technology, billing considerations, and other obstacles. 128 providers (MDs and PhDs) who were located in the United States and had used VR as a therapeutic tool in the past year were identified through research papers, as well as user lists and news articles from VR application websites. Of the 128 providers contacted, 17% (22) completed our online self-report measure. Of these, 13% of respondents (N = 17) completed greater than 75% of the questionnaire and were considered completers. Provider responses were collected over a one-month period and qualitatively analyzed. Results The majority of providers were from an academic institution (n = 12, 70.6%), and all providers practiced in the outpatient setting. Providers most commonly reported using VR for the treatment of acute pain and/or anxiety related to medical procedures (n = 11, 64.7%), followed by specific phobia (n = 6, 35.3%) and social phobia (n = 6, 35.3%). All providers agreed VR is a valuable tool they would recommend to colleagues. The majority (n = 15, 93.8%) believed VR helped their patients progress in treatment, compared with other methods. Providers cited the ability to individualize treatment (n = 14, 87.5%) and increase patient engagement (n = 15, 93.8%) as main benefits of VR. A minority reported negative feedback from patients about content (n = 4, 25%) or about the technology in general (n = 6, 37.5%), whereas all reported some form of positive feedback. The slight majority (n = 10, 58.8%) of providers did not find transitioning to VR difficult. Of those who did, cost was the most commonly cited barrier (n = 6). Regarding reimbursement, only 17.6% (n = 3) of providers reported the ability to bill for VR sessions. Most providers (n = 15, 88.2%) received training on their VR platform which they found beneficial. Comparing the trained and untrained groups found no significant difference in VR comfort level (p = 0.5058), the value of VR in practice (p = 0.551) or whether providers would recommend VR to others (p = 0.551), though sample sizes were small. Conclusions In corroboration with previous research, this study demonstrates that VR is well-received by patients and providers, allowing increased patient engagement and treatment individualization. However, associated costs, including an inability to bill for this service, can present a barrier to further implementation. These findings will guide further development of virtual reality as a standardized tool in psychiatry and pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Vincent
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Margaret Eberts
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Tejal Naik
- Department of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Victoria Gulick
- Information Services & Technologies at Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - C. Virginia O’Hayer
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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Moon E, Yang M, Seon Q, Linnaranta O. Relevance of Objective Measures in Psychiatric Disorders-Rest-Activity Rhythm and Psychophysiological Measures. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:85. [PMID: 34714422 PMCID: PMC8556205 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-021-01291-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We present a review of recent methods of objective measurement in psychiatry and psychology with a focus on home monitoring and its utility in guiding treatment. RECENT FINDINGS For individualized diagnostics and treatment of insomnia, actigraphy can generate clinically useful graphical presentations of sleep timing and patterns. Psychophysiological measures may complement psychometrics by tracking parallel changes in physiological responses and emotional functioning, especially during therapy for trauma symptoms and emotion regulation. It seems that rather than defining universal cut-offs, an individualised range of variability could characterize treatment response. Wearable actigraphy and psychophysiological sensors are promising devices to provide biofeedback and guide treatment. Use of feasible and reliable technology during experimental and clinical procedures may necessitate defining healthy and abnormal responses in different populations and pathological states. We present a "call for action" towards further collaborative work to enable large scale use of objective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunsoo Moon
- Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry and Biomedical Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Michelle Yang
- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Quinta Seon
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Outi Linnaranta
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Mental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland.
- Douglas Centre for Sleep and Biological Rhythms, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
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Zainal NH, Chan WW, Saxena AP, Taylor CB, Newman MG. Pilot randomized trial of self-guided virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder. Behav Res Ther 2021; 147:103984. [PMID: 34740099 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRE) has shown promising efficacy for the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and related comorbidities. However, most trials conducted to date were therapist-led, and little is known about the efficacy of self-guided VRE. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to determine the efficacy of a self-directed VRE for SAD. METHOD Forty-four community-dwelling or undergraduate adults diagnosed with SAD based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were randomly assigned to VRE designed to last four sessions or more (n = 26) or waitlist (WL; n = 18). Self-reported SAD severity (Social Phobia Diagnostic Questionnaire and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale), job interview anxiety (Measure of Anxiety in Selection Interviews), trait worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), and depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were administered at baseline, post-treatment, 3-month-follow-up (3MFU), and 6-month-follow-up (6MFU). Piecewise multilevel modeling analyses were conducted to manage clustering in the data. RESULTS VRE vs. WL resulted in greater reductions in SAD symptom severity, job interview fear, and trait worry, with moderate-to-large effect sizes (Hedge's g = -0.54 to -1.11) from pre-to-post treatment. Although significant between-group differences did not emerge for change in depression, VRE led to change in depression, whereas waitlist did not. These gains were also maintained at 3MFU and 6MFU. Further, facets of presence increased during the course of VRE (g = 0.36-0.45), whereas cybersickness decreased (g = -0.43). DISCUSSION Brief, self-guided VRE might ameliorate SAD and comorbid worry, for young-to-middle-aged adults with SAD. Other theoretical and practical implications were also discussed.
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Kelson JN, Ridout B, Steinbeck K, Campbell AJ. The Use of Virtual Reality for Managing Psychological Distress in Adolescents: Systematic Review. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2021; 24:633-641. [PMID: 34558970 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2021.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Acute and chronic psychological distress are prevalent during adolescence and can have negative impacts on adolescents in all life domains. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the use of virtual reality (VR) interventions to manage symptoms of psychological distress symptoms among adolescents. MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases were searched up to June 2020. Available citations were de-duplicated and screened by two authors using title and abstract information. A total of 301 articles were retained for full-text evaluation next to eligibility criteria. Empirical studies of all designs and comparator groups were included if these appraised the impact of an immersive VR intervention on any standardized measure indicative of psychological distress in an adolescent sample. Data were extracted into a standardized coding sheet. Results were tabulated and discussed with a narrative synthesis due to the heterogeneity between studies. A total of seven studies met inclusion criteria. There were four randomized controlled trials and three uncontrolled pilot studies on new VR interventions. Distress-related issues included: state-anxiety, venepuncture, risk taking, public speaking anxiety, social anxiety disorder, sexual victimization, and chemotherapy administration. All studies reported significant changes on outcome measures after VR treatment. Six studies reported small-to-large reductions in symptoms. The average attrition rate was 3.6 percent during the active VR treatment phase. Treatment acceptability was high in the studies that assessed user engagement factors. The VR technology can provide a safe, rapidly efficacious, and acceptable treatment modality for managing psychological distress in several key adolescent populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua N Kelson
- Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
| | - Brad Ridout
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katharine Steinbeck
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew J Campbell
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Ridout B, Kelson J, Campbell A, Steinbeck K. Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Adolescent Patients in Hospital Settings: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24967. [PMID: 34185015 PMCID: PMC8277306 DOI: 10.2196/24967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Given the high level of interest and increasing familiarity with virtual reality among adolescents, there is great potential to use virtual reality to address adolescents’ unique health care delivery needs while in hospital. While there have been reviews on the use of virtual reality for specific health conditions and procedures, none to date have reviewed the full scope of virtual reality hospital interventions for adolescents who are often combined with children as a homogenous group, despite the fact that adolescents experience virtual environments different from children. Objective The aim of this review was to systematically identify available evidence regarding the use of virtual reality interventions for adolescent patients in hospital settings to evaluate effectiveness, suitability, and safety and identify opportunities for future research. Methods PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, and Scopus databases were searched using keywords and phrases. Retrieved abstracts (n=1525) were double screened, yielding 276 articles for full-text screening. Of these, 8 articles met inclusion criteria. Data were extracted to a standardized coding sheet, and a narrative synthesis was performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies. Results Four RCTs and 4 single-case reports were identified for inclusion, all of which aimed to reduce pain or anxiety. The scenarios targeted were burn pain, venipuncture, chemotherapy, preoperative anxiety, and palliative care. Three out of 4 RCTs found significant reductions in pain or anxiety outcomes measures when using virtual reality compared to standard care or other distraction techniques; however, only 1 study combined self-reported experiences of pain or anxiety with any physiological measures. Single-case reports relied primarily upon qualitative feedback, with patients reporting reduced pain or anxiety and a preference for virtual reality to no virtual reality. Conclusions Virtual reality can provide a safe and engaging way to reduce pain and anxiety in adolescents while in hospital, particularly when virtual reality software is highly immersive and specifically designed for therapeutic purposes. As VR becomes more accessible and affordable for use in hospitals, larger and more diverse studies that capitalize on adolescents’ interest in and aptitude for virtual reality, and on the full range of capabilities of this emerging technology, are needed to build on these promising results. Trial Registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020198760; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020198760
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Ridout
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joshua Kelson
- Faculty of Business, Justice, and Behavioural Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
| | - Andrew Campbell
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kate Steinbeck
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Knani M, Fournier PS, Biron C. Presenteeism in small and medium-sized enterprises: Determinants and impacts on health. Work 2021; 68:733-747. [PMID: 33612517 DOI: 10.3233/wor-203407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small and medium sized enterprises are yet uncharted territory in terms of presenteeism. In addition, the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and Siegrist's Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models are proposed to predict stress-related health problems, but not for sickness behaviors such as presenteeism. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the relationships between psychosocial risk factors, presenteeism, mental and physical health in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study also examines the moderating effect of company size on these associations. METHODS To test the association between psychosocial risks, presenteeism, and health, only people working in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of between 2 and 199 employees were included in the sample, giving a total of 2,525 SME employees surveyed. To test the differences in exposure to psychosocial risk and presenteeism, and the moderating impact of size on the relationship between psychosocial risks, presenteeism, and health, we took the original sample (4608) of the EQCOTESST. RESULTS The results confirm the associations between job demands, social support and effort-reward imbalance, and presenteeism. Also, the associations between presenteeism and health problems in SMEs' context. Multi-group analyses show that the business's size does not moderate the strength of the relationships between psychosocial risks, presenteeism and health. CONCLUSION The current study highlights that SMEs are somehow protected from certain psychosocial constraints such as high job demands, and low social support, but are more exposed to others such as effort-reward imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Caroline Biron
- Faculty of Business Administration, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Colombo D, Díaz-García A, Fernandez-Álvarez J, Botella C. Virtual reality for the enhancement of emotion regulation. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 28:519-537. [PMID: 34048621 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, a growing body of literature has focused on emotion regulation (ER), which refers to the ability to implement strategies in order to modulate emotional responses and reach desirable goals. To date, impaired ER (i.e., emotion dysregulation) has been identified as a transdiagnostic factor across a wide range of psychopathological conditions, which shows the importance of improving patients' ability to regulate negative and positive emotions in clinical practice. In addition to the increasing evidence showing its efficacy in the treatment of several clinical conditions, virtual reality (VR) has recently emerged as a potentially powerful tool for enhancing ER, thus breaking new ground in the development of cutting-edge transdiagnostic interventions. In the present narrative review, we will provide an overview of the existing evidence about VR-based interventions in the field of ER, emphasizing the promising findings and the barriers that still have to be addressed. To this aim, the available VR-based literature will be analysed in relation to four categories of ER strategies: situational strategies, attentional strategies, cognitive strategies, and response modulation strategies. Furthermore, new emerging fields of research targeting innovative aspects of ER will be highlighted, including the use of VR to promote positive emotions and interpersonal ER skills. Besides, its cost-effectiveness will be discussed, taking into account the costs for both developers (e.g., clinicians and researchers) and end-users. Finally, future directions in this promising field of research will be outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée Colombo
- Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Amanda Díaz-García
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Botella
- Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Castellón de la Plana, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Meyerbröker K, Morina N. The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 28:466-476. [PMID: 34097318 PMCID: PMC8362145 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In recent years the development of new virtual environments has been qualitatively high and fast at the same time, but the dissemination of virtual reality (VR) in clinical practice is still scarce. The aim of this review is to give an insight into the state of the art of the use of VR as an assessment tool and treatment intervention in anxiety and related disorders as posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Besides an overview into the efficacy of VR, a summary will be given on assumed working mechanisms in virtual reality exposure therapy and how this aligns with current theoretical models. Further, it will be discussed how VR is accepted by patients and research into the reluctance of therapist to use this technology during treatment with focus on the therapeutic alliance and how it may be influenced by the use of VR. Finally, we discuss clinical and future issues as, for example, dissemination into clinical practice and what VR has to offer therapists in future. This not only in adult population but as well in younger patients, as young adolescents VR has a great potential as it connects easily with its playful elements to this population and might be a low threshold step to offer treatment or preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Meyerbröker
- Department of Clinical PsychologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Altrecht Academic Anxiety CentreUtrechtThe Netherlands
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Fehribach JR, Toffolo MBJ, Cornelisz I, van Klaveren C, van Straten A, van Gelder JL, Donker T. Virtual Reality Self-help Treatment for Aviophobia: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e22008. [PMID: 33843605 PMCID: PMC8076993 DOI: 10.2196/22008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aviophobia (the fear of flying) can greatly impact the daily life functioning of people with the condition. Traditional exposure-based treatment is hampered by the limited availability of airplane practice situations, which is a result of economical and practical concerns. Easily accessible and low-cost virtual reality exposure therapy may address these challenges. OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study is to investigate the effectiveness of ZeroPhobia: Aviophobia (a self-help mobile app-based treatment) in reducing flight anxiety symptoms and depressive and anxiety symptoms. We will also investigate the effects of usage intensity, the sense of immersion, inherent absorption ability, and perceived user-friendliness on the treatment effect. METHODS Participants (N=114) who are aged 18-64 years and experience at least mild symptoms of aviophobia will be recruited from the general Dutch population and randomized into a treatment group or waitlist control group. By using their own phones and rudimentary mobile virtual reality headsets, participants will receive six modules of psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy, which will include six levels of virtual reality exposure therapy over a period of 6 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, posttest (ie, after 6 weeks), and 3- and 12-month follow-ups. The primary outcome measure of our study is the Flight Anxiety Situations Questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include anxiety and depression measures and additional covariates (including usage intensity, the degree of immersion, etc). We will test treatment effectiveness by conducting an intention-to-treat analysis and estimating average treatment effects on the treated. The mechanisms of treatment effect will also be explored. RESULTS The study was funded on September 25, 2018. Ethical approval was received on October 11, 2019. Recruitment closed on May 7, 2020. CONCLUSIONS Our study will further the scientific understanding and clinical implications of technology's current ability to aid in providing effective, accessible treatment for the fear of flying. TRIAL REGISTRATION Netherlands Trial Registry NL70238.029.19; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8257. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/22008.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Rhiannon Fehribach
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marieke Bianca Jolien Toffolo
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ilja Cornelisz
- Methods and Statistics, Department of Education Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Chris van Klaveren
- Methods and Statistics, Department of Education Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annemieke van Straten
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jean-Louis van Gelder
- Department of Criminology, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Tara Donker
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Biological and Personality Psychology, Department of Psychology, Albert Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Wu J, Sun Y, Zhang G, Zhou Z, Ren Z. Virtual Reality-Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:575094. [PMID: 34366904 PMCID: PMC8342859 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.575094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: We aim to explore the effectiveness of virtual reality-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (VRCBT) in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with anxiety disorders. We further compare the therapeutic effect of VRCBT with that of standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as investigate the long-term efficacy of VRCBT. Methods: As of March 3, 2020, a total of four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were retrieved, and two researchers independently conducted literature retrieval and research selection and performed data extraction. Methodological quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool (GRADE). Results: A total of 11 studies were included (n = 626; range, 25.3-43.8), and six randomized controlled trials were quantitatively analyzed. The main outcome was anxiety and depression, and the secondary outcome was the withdrawal rate and long-term effects. Meta-analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of VRCBT on anxiety was better than that of the waiting list group (WLG) (SMD = -0.92; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.50; p = 0.005, I 2 = 66%, n = 276), while the therapeutic effect of VRCBT on anxiety was similar to that of standard CBT treatment (SMD = -0.26; 95% CI: -0.50, -0.01; p = 0.77, I 2 = 0%, n = 150). We further found that the therapeutic effect of VRCBT on depression was better than that of the WLG (SMD = -1.29; 95% CI: -2.26, -0.32; p = 0.09, I 2 = 58%, n = 74), while the effect of VRCBT was similar to that of standard CBT (SMD = -0.30; 95% CI: -0.67, -0.07; p = 0.39, I 2 = 1%, n = 116). Of the five studies that reported withdrawal rates of patients during the VRCBT and CBT treatment process, the withdrawal rates of the VRCBT group and CBT group did not reach statistical significance (OR = 0.70, 1.48, p > 0.05); only two studies reported the long-term effectiveness of VRCBT in anxiety and depression on patients with anxiety disorders. Conclusion: VRCBT treatment has a specific positive effect on patients with anxiety disorders (anxiety and depression). Compared with standard CBT, similar therapeutic effects can be achieved in the treatment of anxiety disorders. However, limited randomized controlled trials were included, requiring that these results be treated with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Sun
- College of Physical Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Gongwei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Weiss TL, Bailenson JN, Bullock K, Greenleaf W. Reality, from virtual to augmented. Digit Health 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818914-6.00018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Chung OS, Robinson T, Johnson AM, Dowling NL, Ng CH, Yücel M, Segrave RA. Implementation of Therapeutic Virtual Reality Into Psychiatric Care: Clinicians' and Service Managers' Perspectives. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:791123. [PMID: 35058823 PMCID: PMC8764380 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.791123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a highly promising tool for assessing and treating a range of mental illnesses. However, little is known about the perspectives of key stakeholders in mental healthcare, whose support will be critical for its successful implementation into routine clinical practise. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of staff working in the private mental health sector around the use of therapeutic VR, including potential implementation barriers and facilitators. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with cross-disciplinary clinicians (n = 14) and service managers (n = 5), aged 28-70 years working in a major private mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia. Transcripts were analysed using general inductive coding to allow themes to naturally emerge. Results: Three major themes were identified: clinical factors (four subthemes), organisational factors (five subthemes), and professional factors (three subthemes). The themes encompassed enabling factors and potential barriers that need to be addressed for successful implementation of VR. Clinical factors highlighted the influence of knowledge or perceptions about appropriate clinical applications, therapeutic efficacy, safety and ethical concerns, and patient engagement. Organisational factors emphasised the importance of service contexts, including having a strong business case, stakeholder planning, recruitment of local opinion leaders to champion change, and an understanding of resourcing challenges. Professional factors highlighted the need for education and training for staff, and the influence of staff attitudes towards technology and perceived usability of VR. Conclusions: In addition to enabling factors, potential implementation barriers of therapeutic VR were identified, including resourcing constraints, safety and ethical concerns, negative staff attitudes towards technology and VR system limitations. Future dissemination should focus on addressing knowledge and skills gaps and attitudinal barriers through development of clinical guidelines, training programs, and implementation resources (e.g., adoption decision tools, consultation opportunities).
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Chung
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tracy Robinson
- School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Alisha M Johnson
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nathan L Dowling
- Professorial Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Chee H Ng
- Professorial Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Murat Yücel
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Segrave
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Anderson PL, Molloy A. Maximizing the impact of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. Curr Opin Psychol 2020; 36:153-157. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Jiang MYW, Upton E, Newby JM. A randomised wait-list controlled pilot trial of one-session virtual reality exposure therapy for blood-injection-injury phobias. J Affect Disord 2020; 276:636-645. [PMID: 32871696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has been recognized as an effective treatment for specific phobias and has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional in vivo exposure therapy (e.g., acceptability). No past research has evaluated the efficacy of VRET for the treatment of blood-injection-injury (BII) phobia. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a single-session VRET intervention for BII phobias. Participants who met DSM-5 criteria for BII phobia (N = 43) were randomized to VRET or a waiting list control group, and completed self-report measures of BII severity (Medical Fear Survey [MFS] and Multidimensional Blood Phobia Inventory [MBPI]) and dental anxiety (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale), as well as clinician ratings of BII phobia severity and catastrophic cognitions at baseline, one-week post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. We found medium to large differences in catastrophic cognitions (probability [g = 0.88] and cost [g = 0.66] ratings), favouring VRET. We found moderate to large differences favouring VRET on the MBPI Injection and Injury fears subscales (g's=0.64-1.14) at one-week post-treatment and 3-month follow-up, and on the MBPI Fainting subscale (g = 0.84) and Injections subscale of the Medical Fear Survey (g = 0.63) at follow-up. There were no other significant group differences. These findings provided some initial evidence to suggest that a single-session VRET may provide some improvements in fears of injections, injury, and fainting. While it may be a useful adjunct or interim step before in vivo exposure therapy, it is not sufficient as a standalone treatment for BII phobia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Upton
- School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Australia
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Lognoul M, Nasello J, Triffaux JM. La thérapie par exposition en réalité virtuelle pour les états de stress post-traumatiques, les troubles obsessionnels compulsifs et les troubles anxieux : indications, plus-value et limites. Encephale 2020; 46:293-300. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Andreatta M, Neueder D, Herzog K, Genheimer H, Schiele MA, Deckert J, Domschke K, Reif A, Wieser MJ, Pauli P. Generalization of Conditioned Contextual Anxiety and the Modulatory Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:1239-1252. [PMID: 31933066 PMCID: PMC7609477 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00831-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety patients overgeneralize fear responses, possibly because they cannot distinguish between cues never been associated with a threat (i.e., safe) and threat-associated cues. However, as contexts and not cues are discussed as the relevant triggers for prolonged anxiety responses characterizing many anxiety disorders, we speculated that it is rather overgeneralization of contextual anxiety, which constitutes a risk factor for anxiety disorders. To this end, we investigated generalization of conditioned contextual anxiety and explored modulatory effects of anxiety sensitivity, a risk factor for anxiety disorders. Fifty-five participants underwent context conditioning in a virtual reality paradigm. On Day 1 (acquisition), participants received unpredictable mildly painful electric stimuli (unconditioned stimulus, US) in one virtual office (anxiety context, CTX+), but never in a second office (safety context, CTX-). Successful acquisition of conditioned anxiety was indicated by aversive ratings and defensive physiological responses (i.e., SCR) to CTX+ vs CTX-. On Day 2 (generalization), participants re-visited both the anxiety and the safety contexts plus three generalization contexts (G-CTX), which were gradually dissimilar to CTX+ (from 75 to 25%). Generalization of conditioned anxiety was evident for ratings, but less clear for physiological responses. The observed dissociation between generalization of verbal and physiological responses suggests that these responses depend on two distinct context representations, likely elemental and contextual representations. Importantly, anxiety sensitivity was positively correlated with the generalization of reported contextual anxiety. Thus, this study demonstrates generalization gradients for conditioned contextual anxiety and that anxiety sensitivity facilitates such generalization processes suggesting the importance of generalization of contextual anxiety for the development of anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 DR, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Dorothea Neueder
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Herzog
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hannah Genheimer
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jürgen Deckert
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, Würzburg, Germany
- Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Matthias J Wieser
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 DR, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review provides an overview of current methods and important aspects to consider when applying virtual worlds in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). RECENT FINDINGS Different aspects such as dialogs between avatars and patients have been investigated as well as virtual audiences, emotional facial expression, and verbal interaction with avatars. Results of these studies are promising. Few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) in SAD. Unfortunately, most RCTs into the efficacy of VRET in comparison with exposure in vivo in SAD have been conducted with a combination of cognitive interventions and VRET. No differences between these conditions were found, but the pure effect of VRET as a stand-alone treatment has only been investigated in one RCT, wherein VRET was not superior to exposure in vivo. Current research into different facets of SAD and VRET has produced promising results with respect to technological aspects. No differences in efficacy between cognitive behavior therapy and VRET were found, but there is a clear need for studies investigating the efficacy of VRET as a stand-alone treatment and the therapeutic processes involved before this therapy can be disseminated in routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. G. Emmelkamp
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Nexhmedin Morina
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Nolet K, Corno G, Bouchard S. The Adoption of New Treatment Modalities by Health Professionals and the Relative Weight of Empirical Evidence in Favor of Virtual Reality Exposure Versus Mindfulness in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:86. [PMID: 32269517 PMCID: PMC7109262 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure exercises is considered as the gold-standard psychological intervention. New psychotherapeutic modalities have emerged in the last decade and, among them, mindfulness has been rapidly adopted by therapists. The adoption rate is slower for the use of virtual reality (VR) to conduct exposure. The goal of the present position paper is to contrast, for the treatment of anxiety disorders, the weight of empirical evidences supporting the use of exposure in VR with the use of mindfulness-based therapy (MBT). Based on the most recent meta-analyses, we found that CBT with exposure conducted in VR was more thoroughly researched and supported than MBT, receiving validation from roughly twice as many studies with high control (i.e., randomized, active controls with clinical samples). However, this conclusion is nuanced by reviewing gaps in the literature for both therapies. Potential factors influencing clinicians' choice of treatment and suggestions for future research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Nolet
- Cyberpsychology Laboratory of UQO, Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
| | - Giulia Corno
- Cyberpsychology Laboratory of UQO, Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
- LabPsiTec, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Stéphane Bouchard
- Cyberpsychology Laboratory of UQO, Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
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Hinojo-Lucena FJ, Aznar-Díaz I, Cáceres-Reche MP, Trujillo-Torres JM, Romero-Rodríguez JM. Virtual Reality Treatment for Public Speaking Anxiety in Students. Advancements and Results in Personalized Medicine. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E14. [PMID: 32121589 PMCID: PMC7151627 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is a common phobia in the student population. Traditionally, exposure therapy has been used as a treatment. However, the use of virtual reality (VR) is increasingly common to treat PSA. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the published scientific literature on VR as a treatment for PSA in students. The articles indexed in two databases (Web of Science and Scopus) were analyzed, with a time period from the beginning of the first publications until 2019 included. The systematic literature review was based on fixed inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 13 studies were identified which included 481 students. The results collected indicate that the duration of treatments to have positive effects was at least one week, where the number of sessions was between one and twelve. Furthermore, most VR treatments reported positive effects. Finally, this study showed evidence that VR treatment for PSA is effective while being less invasive than in vivo exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - José-María Romero-Rodríguez
- Department of Didactics and School Organization, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (F.-J.H.-L.); (I.A.-D.); (M.-P.C.-R.); (J.-M.T.-T.)
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Clemmensen L, Bouchard S, Rasmussen J, Holmberg TT, Nielsen JH, Jepsen JRM, Lichtenstein MB. STUDY PROTOCOL: EXPOSURE IN VIRTUAL REALITY FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER - a randomized controlled superiority trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy with virtual reality based exposure to cognitive behavioral therapy with in vivo exposure. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:32. [PMID: 32000725 PMCID: PMC6990574 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-2453-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by an intense fear of negative judgement by others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is recommended for treatment, but a substantial part of individuals with SAD either do not seek treatment or drop-out. CBT with Virtual Reality (VR)-based exposure has several advantages compared to traditional exposure methods, mainly due to increased control of situational elements. The aim of the current study is to develop a CBT program containing VR-based exposure. The intervention is targeted to adult patients suffering from SAD and treatment effect will be assessed by changes in SAD symptoms. METHODS This article describes the study protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial with three arms: 1) CBT with VR exposure based on 360° videos 2) CBT with in vivo exposure and 3) VR relaxation therapy. There will be 30 participants in each arm with a crossover at the end of the treatment period during which the participants in the third group will be randomly re-allocated to one of the two former groups. The treatment program consists of 10 weekly individual sessions with a psychologist, and a six month follow-up consisting of a questionnaire. The primary outcome measure is reduction in SAD symptoms which will be assessed with the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). DISCUSSION There are currently no published studies on CBT with VR exposure based on 360° videos for SAD treatment. Furthermore, the current study will be the first Danish SAD treatment program that includes VR technology. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03973541) June 3rd 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Clemmensen
- Center for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Stéphane Bouchard
- 0000 0001 2112 1125grid.265705.3Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, University du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Canada
| | - Johan Rasmussen
- Center for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Trine Theresa Holmberg
- Center for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakob Hyldig Nielsen
- Center for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen
- 0000 0001 0674 042Xgrid.5254.6Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS) and Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mia Beck Lichtenstein
- Center for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Fernández-Álvarez J, Di Lernia D, Riva G. Virtual Reality for Anxiety Disorders: Rethinking a Field in Expansion. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1191:389-414. [PMID: 32002939 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The principal aim to this chapter is to present the latest ideas in virtual reality (VR), some of which have already been applied to the field of anxiety disorders, and others are still pending to be materialized. More than 20 years ago, VR emerged as an exposure tool in order to provide patients and therapists with more appealing ways of delivering a technique that was undoubtedly effective but also rejected and thus underused. Throughout these years, many improvements were achieved. The first section of the chapter describes those improvements, both considering the research progresses and the applications in the real world. In a second part, our main interest is to expand the discussion of the new applications of VR beyond its already known role as an exposure tool. In particular, VR is enabling the materialization of numerous ideas that were previously confined to a merely philosophical discussion in the field of cognitive sciences. That is, VR has the enormous potential of providing feasible ways to explore nonclassical ways of cognition, such as embodied and situated information processing. Despite the fact that many of these developments are not fully developed, and not specifically designed for anxiety disorders, we want to introduce these new ideas in a context in which VR is experiencing an enormous transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Giuseppe Riva
- Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy. .,ATN-P Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
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