Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and Hypnosis for Flying Phobia in a Treatment-Resistant Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Flying phobia is a problem that affects a significant portion of the population. There are a number of therapeutic approaches but no one is universally accepted as the gold standard. One therapy is hypnosis. A recent addition to the armamentarium is virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy. Both therapies are short-term and compare favorably to in vivo desensitization. Heretofore a combination of both approaches has not been reported. This article presents a case of a 50-year phobia to flying that was refractory to traditional methods including pharmacotherapy, systematic desensitization, and cognitive behavioral therapy but was successfully treated using VRE therapy and hypnosis as the primary modalities. This treatment was supplemented by other approaches. The rationale for this multimodal therapy and possible mechanisms involved are discussed.

A Rapid Evidence Assessment of Immersive Virtual Reality as an Adjunct Therapy in Acute Pain Management in Clinical Practice

“…40,75,76 Some researchers have also observed that the equipment and HMDs are heavy and uncomfortable for patients to wear for any length of time. There is limited discussion with regard to claustrophobia as an adverse effect associated with IVR, although there is evidence of the use of IVR to treat claustrophobia (and other phobias); the discussion of this is beyond the scope of this REA.…”

Virtual Reality Clinical Research: Promises and Challenges

“…There has been rapid growth in the reported use of VR in the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions, such as acute and chronic pain management [ 2 - 9 ], anxiety disorders [ 10 - 12 ], phobias [ 13 - 15 ], posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [ 16 - 18 ], eating disorders [ 19 ], autism [ 20 ], and rehabilitation [ 21 - 26 ]. Additionally, its use in professional health care education has also been expanding rapidly [ 22 , 27 - 32 ].…”

An American scientist's iconoclastic response to Psychotherapies for Anxiety and Depression: benefits and costs

“…Polypharmacy or the usage of two or more drugs that act through different mechanisms may enhance the effect of each when used in combination. To continue with this analogy but now with psychotherapy, consideration should be given to the use of different psychological treatments that act synergistically in treating anxiety or depression (Hirsch, 2012(Hirsch, , 2017.…”