Virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Anderson, Page L.; Price, Matthew; Edwards, Shannan M; Obasaju, Mayowa; Schmertz, Stefan K.; Zimand, Elana; Calamaras, Martha R.

doi:10.1037/a0033559

Cited by 294 publications

(297 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…[8][9][10][11][12][13]22 However, many of these studies [8][9][10]12,13,22 employed virtual reality systems with immersive headsets, while the virtual reality system used in this study is easier for clinicians to obtain and use in their offices. One study used computer-generated 3D scenes, but the sample was composed only by individuals with public-speaking anxiety, 11 which limits the generalizability of its results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is consistent with other studies, which have shown a persistence of therapeutic effects for as long as 1 year. 8,13 In short, the aim of this study was achieved. A program was created and developed to treat social phobia through VRE.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The psychological assessments carried out in the present study were more complete; other studies have measured only the decrease in anxiety, omitting the impact of therapy on social, family, and business aspects. 8,[11][12][13]22 Price et al 22 assessed the experience of people who underwent VRE, and reported the importance of immersion in the virtual world by darkening the environment and requiring participants to wear the same kind of clothes they would wear in real-life situations, or hold relevant objects. The present study also provided a strongly immersive experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,28 Numerous studies have tried to create and evaluate the use of virtual environments that reproduce anxietygenerating situations. [8][9][10][11][12][13] However, few controlled studies have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of social phobias. All relevant studies have shown improvements, but with limitations such as the use of participants with circumscribed social phobia 8,[10][11][12][13] ; the use of more complex VRE systems, such as virtual reality headsets [9][10][11][12][13] ; the use of patients on a waiting list for therapy as a control group 11 ; and collection of limited measurements of the phobic experience.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20,21 VRE has advantages over imagined or in vivo exposures. [9][10][11]13,22 It can provide standardized and controlled environments, and scenes can be repeated to achieve therapeutic goals. 23,24 Moreover, exposure to virtual environments bridges the gap between an imagined situation and a real one; it allows the patient to be exposed to anxiety-generating stimuli as if he or she were in a real situation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virtual reality exposure using three-dimensional images for the treatment of social phobia

Gebara

Barros-Neto

Gertsenchtein

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

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Objective: To test a potential treatment for social phobia, which provides exposure to phobia-inducing situations via computer-generated, three-dimensional images, using an open clinical trial design. Methods: Twenty-one patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of social phobia took part in the trial. Treatment consisted of up to 12 sessions of exposure to relevant images, each session lasting 50 minutes. Results: Improvements in social anxiety were seen in all scales and instruments used, including at follow-up 6 months after the end of treatment. The average number of sessions was seven, as the participants habituated rapidly to the process. Only one participant dropped out. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that exposure to computer-generated three-dimensional images is relatively inexpensive, leads to greater treatment adherence, and can reduce social anxiety. Further studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Virtual reality exposure using three-dimensional images for the treatment of social phobia

Gebara

Barros-Neto

Gertsenchtein

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

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Baseline Severity as a Moderator of the Waiting List–Controlled Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Symptom Change in Social Anxiety Disorder

et al. 2023

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ImportanceSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with prognosis, and it is unclear whether symptom severity predicts response to CBT for SAD.ObjectiveTo examine baseline SAD symptom severity as a moderator of the association between CBT and symptom change in patients with SAD.Data SourcesFor this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA), PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1990, to January 13, 2023. Primary search topics were social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavior therapy, and randomized controlled trial.Study SelectionInclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing CBT with being on a waiting list and using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of SAD.Data Extraction and SynthesisAuthors of included studies were approached to provide individual-level data. Data were extracted by pairs of authors following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. An IPDMA was conducted using a 2-stage approach for the association of CBT with change in LSAS scores from baseline to posttreatment and for the interaction effect of baseline LSAS score by condition using random-effects models.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was the baseline to posttreatment change in symptom severity measured by the LSAS.ResultsA total of 12 studies including 1246 patients with SAD (mean [SD] age, 35.3 [10.9] years; 738 [59.2%] female) were included in the meta-analysis. A waiting list–controlled association between CBT and pretreatment to posttreatment LSAS change was found (b = –20.3; 95% CI, −24.9 to −15.6; P &lt; .001; Cohen d = –0.95; 95% CI, −1.16 to −0.73). Baseline LSAS scores moderated the differences between CBT and waiting list with respect to pretreatment to posttreatment symptom reductions (b = –0.22; 95% CI, −0.39 to −0.06; P = .009), indicating that individuals with severe symptoms had larger waiting list–controlled symptom reductions after CBT (Cohen d = –1.13 [95% CI, −1.39 to −0.88] for patients with very severe SAD; Cohen d = –0.54 [95% CI, −0.80 to −0.29] for patients with mild SAD).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this systematic review and IPDMA, higher baseline SAD symptom severity was associated with greater (absolute but not relative) symptom reductions after CBT in patients with SAD. The findings contribute to personalized care by suggesting that clinicians can confidently offer CBT to individuals with severe SAD symptoms.

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Virtual Reality

Botella,

Baños,

García‐Palacios,

et al. 2015

Clinical Psychology

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Virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Cited by 294 publications

References 49 publications

Virtual reality exposure using three-dimensional images for the treatment of social phobia

Virtual reality exposure using three-dimensional images for the treatment of social phobia

Baseline Severity as a Moderator of the Waiting List–Controlled Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Symptom Change in Social Anxiety Disorder

Virtual Reality

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