Virtual reality exposure effect in acrophobia: psychological and physiological evidence from a single experimental session

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00159816%3A_____%2F24%3A00081207" target="_blank" >RIV/00159816:_____/24:00081207 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14210/24:00136536 RIV/00216305:26220/24:PU151705

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-024-01037-5" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-024-01037-5</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10055-024-01037-5" target="_blank" >10.1007/s10055-024-01037-5</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Virtual reality exposure effect in acrophobia: psychological and physiological evidence from a single experimental session

Original language description

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has gained attention from researchers in diverse fields, particularly in therapy of phobias. Currently, virtual reality exposure therapy therapy (VRET) is considered a promising cognitive-behavioral therapy technique. However, specific psychological and physiological responses of VR users to virtual exposure in such a context are still only vaguely explored. In this experimental study, we mapped VR exposure in a height environment in people with a moderate fear of heights-acrophobia. Thirty-six participants were divided into experimental and control groups-with and without psychological guidance during exposure. Participants&apos; subjective level of anxiety was examined, and objective physiological response was captured via heart rate variability (HRV) measurement. Psychological assessments recorded an anticipated rise in participant anxiety following exposure to height; nevertheless, no distinctions were observed in self-reported anxiety concerning psychological guidance. Notably, objective physiological measures revealed that VR exposure prompts physiological responses akin to real-world scenarios. Moreover, based on the analysis of heart rate variability, participants who received psychological guidance were identified as better at compensating for anxiety compared to those without such support. These findings support VRET as a promising tool for psychotherapy and advocate for psychological guidance as beneficial in reducing anxiety and managing stress during exposure. The results may help improve our understanding of anxiety during exposure to phobic stimuli.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30100 - Basic medicine

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

VIRTUAL REALITY

ISSN

1359-4338

e-ISSN

1434-9957

Volume of the periodical

28

Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

137

UT code for WoS article

001271193900001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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