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Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of driving: analysis of clinical characteristics, physiological response, and sense of presence
Costa, Rafael T da; Carvalho, Marcele R de; Ribeiro, Pedro; Nardi, Antonio E.
  • Costa, Rafael T da; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Psiquiatria. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Carvalho, Marcele R de; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Psiquiatria. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Ribeiro, Pedro; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Psiquiatria. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Nardi, Antonio E; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Psiquiatria. Rio de Janeiro. BR
Braz. J. Psychiatry (São Paulo, 1999, Impr.) ; 40(2): 192-199, Apr.-June 2018. tab, graf
Article in English | LILACS | ID: biblio-959213
ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the reactions of women with driving phobia to a therapeutic program of scheduled virtual reality exposure treatment (VRET) sessions.

Methods:

The study intervention consisted of a computer game with car-driving scenarios that included several traffic situations. We investigated the participants' sense of presence, subjective distress, and physiological responses during eight virtual-reality exposures. We also evaluated clinical characteristics, driving cognitions, and quality of life in the participants.

Results:

Thirteen women were selected. Eight were able to complete the protocol. After VRET, there was a decrease in the frequency of distorted thoughts and state anxiety scores, as well as a slight improvement in quality of life. Subjective discomfort scores, heart rate variation, and sense of presence scores confirmed that there was sense of presence in the virtual reality environment.

Conclusion:

All patients showed some degree of improvement and demonstrated different levels of anxiety in subsequent in vivo driving experiences. Our findings suggest that VRET could be used to facilitate in vivo exposure, because it can induce presence/immersion and reduce anxiety in patients with specific phobia. Furthermore, VRET is not associated with any type of risk.
Subject(s)


Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Phobic Disorders / Automobile Driving / Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Type of study: Etiology study / Practice guideline Limits: Adult / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. J. Psychiatry (São Paulo, 1999, Impr.) Journal subject: Psychiatry Year: 2018 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR

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Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Phobic Disorders / Automobile Driving / Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Type of study: Etiology study / Practice guideline Limits: Adult / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. J. Psychiatry (São Paulo, 1999, Impr.) Journal subject: Psychiatry Year: 2018 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR