A Systematic Review on The Efficacy of VRET For Agoraphobia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/1yv3z955Keywords:
VRET, Agoraphobia, Scopus databases, evaluation.Abstract
This systematic review paper aims to evaluate the efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for Agoraphobia, a severe psychological disorder characterized by avoidance behavior and sometimes panic attacks. The paper presents a qualitative assessment of 15 studies published after 2000, using Scopus databases. The experiments were evaluated for eligibility based on their abstracts and full content, and only English-language published articles were included. The review shows that VRET is a promising therapy for Agoraphobia, with similar efficacy to In Vivo Exposure (IVE), but with certain advantages such as better control over exposure content and higher patient satisfaction. However, implementing VRET may be difficult for some patients due to cybersickness and higher costs. The paper concludes with a diagram of the 15 experiments evaluated and emphasizes the importance of further research on the efficacy of VR therapy for anxiety disorders, including Agoraphobia.
Downloads
References
Botella, C., García-Palacios, A., Villa, H., Baños, R. M., Quero, S., Alcañiz, M., & Riva, G. (2007). Virtual reality exposure in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia: A controlled study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 14 (3), 164 – 175.
Castro, W. P., Roca Sánchez, M. J., Pitti González, C. T., Bethencourt, J. M., de la Fuente Portero, J. A., & Marco, R. G. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral treatment and antidepressants combined with virtual reality exposure for patients with chronic agoraphobia. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 14 (1), 9 – 17.
Choi, Y. H., Vincelli, F., Riva, G., Wiederhold, B. K., Lee, J. H., & Park, K. H. (2005). Effects of group experiential cognitive therapy for the treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 8 (4), 387 - 393.
Freeman, D., Lambe, S., Kabir, T., Petit, A., Rosebrock, L., Yu, L.-M., Dudley, R., Chapman, K., Morrison, A., O’Regan, E., Aynsworth, C., Jones, J., Murphy, E., Powling, R., Galal, U., Grabey, J., Rovira, A., Martin, J., Hollis, C., & Clark, D. M. (2022). Automated virtual reality therapy to treat agoraphobic avoidance and distress in patients with psychosis (gameChange): a multicentre, parallel-group, single-blind, randomised, controlled trial in England with mediation and moderation analyses. The Lancet Psychiatry, 0 (0).
Jung, H. W., Jang, K. W., Nam, S., Ahn, M. E., Lee, S.-K., Kim, Y. J., Shin, J.-K., Park, J. H., & Roh, D. (2024). Personalized virtual reality exposure for panic disorder and agoraphobia: A preliminary neurophysiological study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 129 (0010-440X), 152447.
Lorenzo, G., Castro, P., Pitti González, W., Teresa, C., Pérez, B., Manuel, J., De La, Portero, F., Antonio, J., & Marco, G. (2011). The effects of a treatment based on the use of virtual reality exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapy applied to patients with agoraphobia. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 11 (2), 189 – 203.
Lundin, J., Lundström, A., Gulliksen, J., Blendulf, J., Ejeby, K., Nyman, H., ... & Hedman-Lagerlöf, E. (2022). Using 360-degree videos for virtual reality exposure in CBT for panic disorder with agoraphobia: a feasibility study. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 50 (2), 158 - 170.
Malbos, E., Rapee, R. M., & Kavakli, M. (2011). Isolating the effect of virtual reality-based exposure therapy for agoraphobia: a comparative trial. Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine 2011, 45 - 50.
Malbos, E., Rapee, R. M., & Kavakli, M. (2013). A controlled study of agoraphobia and the independent effect of virtual reality exposure therapy. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47 (2), 160 - 168.
Vincelli, F., Anolli, L., Bouchard, S., Wiederhold, B. K., Zurloni, V., & Riva, G. (2003). Experiential cognitive therapy in the treatment of panic disorders with agoraphobia: a controlled study. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6 (3), 321 - 328.
Peñate, W., Pitti, C. T., Bethencourt, J. M., de la Fuente, J., & Gracia, R. (2008). The effects of a treatment based on the use of virtual reality exposure and cognitive-behavioral therapy applied to patients with agoraphobia. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 8(1), 5-22.
Pitti, C. T., Peñate, W., de la Fuente, J., Bethencourt, J., Acosta, L., Villaverde, M., & Gracia, R. (2008). Agoraphobia: Combined treatment and virtual reality. Preliminary results. Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría, 36, 94 - 101.
Meyerbroeker, K., Morina, N., Kerkhof, G. A., & Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2013). Virtual reality exposure therapy does not provide any additional value in agoraphobic patients: a randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 82 (3), 170 - 176.
Pérez-Ara, M. A., Quero, S., Botella, C., Banos, R., Andreu-Mateu, S., García-Palacios, A., & Bretón-López, J. (2010). Virtual reality interoceptive exposure for the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine 2010, 77 - 81.
Meyerbröker, K., Morina, N., Kerkhof, G., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2011). Virtual reality exposure treatment of agoraphobia: a comparison of computer automatic virtual environment and head-mounted display. Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine 2011, 51 - 56.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
