Affiliations: [a] Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [b] Amsterdam Brain and Cognition Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [c] Interactive Intelligence Group, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands | [d] Center for Social and Humanities Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Nexhmedin Morina, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 20 525 8607; Fax: +31 20 639 1369; E-mail:n.morina@uva.nl
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Research on virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has demonstrated good
treatment efficacy with regards to several anxiety disorders. Yet, there is
lack of knowledge about the value of integrating interaction between clients
and virtual humans in VRET. Such interaction might prove effective in
treating psychological complaints that involve social interactions, such as
social anxiety.
METHODS: A VRET system specifically designed to expose clients with social anxiety
disorder to anxiety provoking social situations was applied to 16 and 18
individuals with high and low levels of social anxiety, respectively.
Participants engaged in two exposure sessions in several free speech
dialogues with virtual humans while being monitored by a therapist.
RESULTS: Participants with high levels of social anxiety reported significantly
lower levels of social anxiety three months after exposure to two virtual
reality interaction sessions than before treatment (p < 0.01). In the group
with low levels of social anxiety, no significant change of social anxiety
was reported between pre-treatment and follow-up. Additionally, participants
in both groups reported higher self-efficacy three months after treatment
than before treatment (ps ≤ 0.001).
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that virtual reality technology that incorporates
social interactions may be successfully applied for therapeutic purposes.
Keywords: Virtual reality, exposure, social phobia, social anxiety
