Virtual Reality Exposure in Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Qualitative Evaluation Based on Patients' and Therapists' Experiences

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Benjamin Thorup Arnfred
  • Peter Bang
  • Josefine Winther Davy
  • Lene Qvist Larsen
  • Hjorthøj, Carsten
  • Anne Bryde Christensen

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a highly prevalent and impairing disorder. Current best practice is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but there are several challenges associated with performing exposure therapy. Virtual reality exposure (VRE) may improve treatment efficacy of SAD in a group therapy context, because it allows for greater control, flexibility, and individualization of the exposure stimuli. However, to date no study has investigated the use of VRE for SAD in a group context. In the present study, nine patients who had undergone group CBT with VRE for SAD and three therapists responsible for the treatment were interviewed about their experiences. The objective of the study was to investigate the practical and therapeutic challenges of using VRE in a group therapy context. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The results showed that it was difficult for the patients to engage with the VRE in a group therapy context and that there were several practical challenges. However, all participants found the VRE exercises to be meaningful, because it gave them a medium to practice and understand typically avoided social situations. The latter has not previously been described as a treatment mechanism for anxiety through virtual reality. However, the appropriateness of VRE in group therapy remains unclear. Implications are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTranslational Issues in Psychological Science
Volume7
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)229-247
Number of pages19
ISSN2332-2136
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • virtual reality exposure therapy, social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, thematic analysis, ENVIRONMENTS, PHOBIA, INTERVENTIONS, VALIDATION, OUTCOMES, ADULTS

ID: 317674706