Virtual reality exposure therapy

Virtual reality exposure therapy uses computer-generated environments to present feared situations in a controlled, repeatable way. It aims to reduce fear and avoidance through structured exposure.

Exposure therapy: A psychological treatment that repeatedly and safely confronts feared cues to reduce avoidance and distress. Virtual reality delivers exposure therapy by presenting feared cues in simulated settings.
Fear of flying: An intense fear of air travel that can lead to distress or avoidance of flying. Flight simulations can rehearse airport and aircraft situations without taking a real flight.
In vivo exposure: Exposure to feared situations or objects in real life rather than through imagination or simulation. It offers direct contact with real cues, while virtual reality provides greater control and repeatability.
Cybersickness: Nausea, dizziness, or disorientation caused by using immersive virtual environments. Symptoms can interrupt sessions or make headset-based treatment unsuitable for some people.
Virtual reality: Interactive computer-generated environments that create a sense of presence in a simulated world. Its immersive environments make simulated exposure feel immediate and controllable.
Acrophobia: A marked fear of heights that can cause distress or avoidance in elevated places. Virtual balconies and heights can provide graded exposure without physical elevation.
Imaginal exposure: Exposure treatment in which a person deliberately imagines feared events or situations. Virtual environments supply sensory scenes that imaginal exposure must evoke through description and memory.
Ecological validity: The extent to which findings or experiences represent conditions outside a controlled setting. A simulated scene may not reproduce the cues and unpredictability of the real feared situation.
Habituation: A decrease in response after repeated or sustained exposure to a stimulus. Repeated encounters in a simulation may reduce fear responses over time.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: A disorder that can develop after trauma, involving intrusive memories, avoidance, and heightened arousal. Virtual reality has been used to support trauma-focused exposure for selected patients.

Linked from 21 pages