Until a while ago, virtual reality treatment could be thought of as something unthinkable, but it is increasingly becoming more suitable for treating some conditions, such as specific phobias. This type of human-computer interaction therapy is a good idea for people with anxiety disorders due to phobias such as fear of heights, elevators, thunderstorms, public speaking or flying.
After conducting an initial diagnostic interview to ensure that the service is appropriate for the presenting problem, participants should be placed in a three-dimensional virtual world generated by a computer and are guided through the selected environment.
Computer graphics and various display and input technologies are integrated to give the user a sense of presence or immersion in the virtual environment. The therapist then guides the participant through the environment and can interact with them throughout the event. Research indicates that 6 to 12 sessions are required to achieve maximum benefit.
Below we are going to tell you about some of the advantages you can have when treating specific phobias through virtual reality therapy. As everything, This type of therapy may be appropriate for some people, but not for others.
Greater security and control
Virtual reality exposure involves exposing the patient to a virtual environment containing the feared stimulus rather than taking the patient into a real environment or having the patient imagine the stimulus. The real environment can be unpredictable and in vivo exposure therapy leaves a lot to chance, so much so that sometimes the results can be very contradictory. The therapist controls the virtual environment through a computer keyboard ensuring exposure to programmed situations.
Furthermore, the patient feels much safer because he knows that deep down, it is a virtual reality, that is, that what he is experiencing is not real and that everything he is feeling on a physical or emotional level is a product of your mind and the phobia that makes you feel that way. It is a way for him to realize that he is the one in control of the situation and not his situation.
More efficient treatment and easier programming
Virtual reality software and virtual environment models have been carefully designed to support exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. Standard exposure therapy can be very expensive because it typically requires leaving the therapist's office and therefore long sessions.
Virtual reality programs can achieve the same exposure within the standard therapy hour (typically 45-50 minutes) and within the confines of the therapist's office. Multiple sessions can be scheduled in the same week.
Less risk to patient confidentiality
Since the therapy takes place in the therapist's office, there is no more risk than with any other type of unlimited potential to meet friends, encounter difficult situations and be in public in case the exposure goes too far.
Shorter sessions can mean more money saved
Many insurance companies will not pay for the extended sessions required for standard exposure therapy. This may not be a problem with a virtual reality system to help with exposure. Sessions take place in the therapist's office and can usually be completed in 45-50 minutes.
Unlimited repetitions of feared situations
The use of virtual reality allows the therapist maximum control over the stimuli for a perfect exposure. Standard exposure therapy is subject to real-world limitations, for example, only one takeoff and landing per flight. Exposure to virtual reality allows the therapist to manipulate situations to better suit the patient, for example, to repeatedly land the virtual plane.
It is effective for the treatment of phobias
Patients who are treated with virtual reality improve significantly after treatment. Additionally, there are no differences between people who are exposed to fears or phobias through virtual reality than those who had live exposure. This means that people who are exposed to their fears in both a live and virtual environment, can help them overcome phobias.
Applies to real life
Thanks to this type of therapy it is known that anxiety What you feel when you are faced with a phobia can be overcome in real life even if the treatment was through virtual reality. For perceptual mechanisms, virtual reality and the real world cause the same sensations. For this reason and with good therapy, As time passes and the sessions carried out, the improvement can be extended to real life.
No imagination is required to overcome the phobia
Normally, when a traditional method is used to overcome phobias with therapeutic treatment, guided imagination is usually used through a psychologist. This implies that training is needed but not all people have the ability to vividly imagine situations and be able to immerse themselves in them. Furthermore, this does not guarantee good effectiveness, since the psychologist does not. can access what the patient is imagining and. Perhaps the treatment is not effective, not because of the professional's inability, but because the patient is not imagining things as they should be. The patient may be thinking about something else as an avoidance mechanism. On the other hand, when virtual reality is used, the person is “forced” to be in that environment and interact with it, and This is the best way to resolve phobias.
Cheaper
Virtual reality can be cheaper because moving to a real environment to overcome phobias can be much more costly in time and resources than if done in an environment controlled by virtual reality. Furthermore, with virtual reality Successful results can be achieved in fewer sessions, so on this part, money is also saved.