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 journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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 language | English |
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Journal | Translational Issues in Psychological Science |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 229-247 |
Number of pages | 19 |
ISSN | 2332-2136 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 |
- virtual reality exposure therapy, social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, thematic analysis, ENVIRONMENTS, PHOBIA, INTERVENTIONS, VALIDATION, OUTCOMES, ADULTS
Research areas
ID: 317674706