TY - JOUR
T1 - Scoping review of the hardware and software features of virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobia
AU - Arnfred, Benjamin
AU - Svendsen, Johanna Kvist
AU - Adjourlu, Ali
AU - Horthøj, Carsten
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Arnfred, Svendsen, Adjourlu and Horthøj.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Introduction: The use of virtual reality technology to deliver exposure therapy in the treatment of phobic anxiety (i.e., social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobia) has been proposed to be advantageous compared with in-vivo exposure therapy. These supposed advantages depend on the features of the virtual reality technology and how it is used therapeutically. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the features of the hardware and software used in studies examining virtual reality exposure therapy studies for phobic anxiety disorders. Methods: 70 studies using virtual reality exposure therapy to treat social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and/or specific phobia, were systematically reviewed for 46 data points relating to these features. Results: We found that studies generally did not utilize contemporary virtual reality technology and that hardware and software features were inconsistently delineated. Discussion: The implications of these findings are that the use of modern virtual reality technology represents a relevant frontier in anxiety treatment and that a framework for reporting technical features of virtual reality exposure interventions would benefit the field.
AB - Introduction: The use of virtual reality technology to deliver exposure therapy in the treatment of phobic anxiety (i.e., social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobia) has been proposed to be advantageous compared with in-vivo exposure therapy. These supposed advantages depend on the features of the virtual reality technology and how it is used therapeutically. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the features of the hardware and software used in studies examining virtual reality exposure therapy studies for phobic anxiety disorders. Methods: 70 studies using virtual reality exposure therapy to treat social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and/or specific phobia, were systematically reviewed for 46 data points relating to these features. Results: We found that studies generally did not utilize contemporary virtual reality technology and that hardware and software features were inconsistently delineated. Discussion: The implications of these findings are that the use of modern virtual reality technology represents a relevant frontier in anxiety treatment and that a framework for reporting technical features of virtual reality exposure interventions would benefit the field.
KW - agoraphobia
KW - scoping review
KW - social anxiety disorder
KW - specific phobia
KW - virtual reality exposure therapy
KW - virtual reality technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163313226&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/frvir.2023.952741
DO - 10.3389/frvir.2023.952741
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85163313226
SN - 2673-4192
VL - 4
JO - Frontiers in Virtual Reality
JF - Frontiers in Virtual Reality
M1 - 952741
ER -