@article{cornoExploringVirtualReality2026,

title = {Exploring Virtual Reality for Body Image Assessment and Psychological Interventions in Individuals With Obesity: a Comprehensive Review},

author = {G. Corno and Á. Zamora and S. Bouchard and R. Baños and A. Baillot and J. Monthuy-Blanc},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024457568?origin=resultslist},

doi = {10.1111/obr.70051},

issn = {14677881 (ISSN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Obesity Reviews},

volume = {27},

number = {4},

publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Inc},

abstract = {Introduction: Individuals living with obesity often experience body image (BI) disturbances, which can negatively affect their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing psychological interventions, but no comprehensive review has specifically focused on VR-based studies addressing BI disturbances in this population. Methods: This comprehensive review examined studies utilizing VR for the assessment and treatment of BI disturbances in individuals with obesity. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Studies were categorized into three groups: (i) VR in psychological interventions for individuals with obesity, (ii) VR interventions following metabolic and bariatric surgery, and (iii) VR-based full-body illusion experiments. The primary clinical application was experiential cognitive therapy, which demonstrated greater efficacy in reducing negative BI compared with standard cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments. Studies involving post-metabolic and bariatric surgery adults also supported VR's efficacy in reducing BI dissatisfaction, though long-term benefits were inconsistent. Full-body illusion experiments suggested that VR can help modify distorted body perceptions. However, most studies were conducted by the same research group, focused exclusively on women, and were limited to specific geographical regions, primarily Italy. Conclusion: While preliminary results suggest that VR is a promising tool for treating BI disturbances in individuals with obesity, the field remains under-researched. Notably, no studies have explored VR's potential as an assessment tool in this population. Future studies should include more diverse populations, investigate long-term outcomes, and explore potential barriers to clinical implementation. © 2025 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.},

keywords = {adult, Anxiety disorder, Assertiveness, Bariatric Surgery, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image assessment, body image avoidance questionnaire, body image disturbances, body satisfaction scale, bulimia, Clinical research, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, Depression, electroconvulsive therapy, exercise, feeding behavior, female, follow up, gastric banding, geography, group therapy, human, Humans, Italy, low calorie diet, male, obesity, overnutrition, physical activity, procedures, psychology, psychotherapy, quality of life, review, social background, systematic review, Therapy, Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, training, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{sheehy_immersive_2025,

title = {Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences can Decrease Pain and Distress in Patients Living in Complex Care},

author = {L. Sheehy and H. Finestone and S. Bouchard and K. Dezeeuw and P. Doering and N. Dunlop and H. Sveistrup},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023893911&partnerID=40&md5=cf29113c44db0b13e00df2e34acbc141},

issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},

volume = {23},

pages = {272–278},

abstract = {Patients living in complex care (CC) frequently experience pain. The study goals were to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR), and the potential for VR to impact pain, mood, and quality of life in two groups of patients living in CC, those experiencing acute pain during wound dressing changes and those experiencing chronic pain. Participants were offered 30 minutes of immersive, passive VR experiences using a Meta Quest 2 headset, 3 times/week for 3 weeks. Pain and mood were assessed pre, during and post each VR session. Pain, mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the 3-week intervention. Feasibility was assessed after each session. Three women (average age 66.3) with wound dressing changes completed an average of 3.7 sessions (25.5 minutes/session). Two-thirds experienced meaningful declines in pain with VR. Seventeen participants (6 men, 11 women, average age 58.4) with chronic pain completed an average of 3.1 sessions (21.4 minutes/session). Pain was significantly decreased from pre to post VR and pre to during VR. Mood and quality of life did not change. Both groups had low levels of discomfort and nausea, and high levels of satisfaction and immersiveness. Most participants enjoyed the experience and appreciated the immersion. It was challenging to adapt the headset to patients in non-seated positions who could not use VR controllers. VR is a promising modality to manage pain in patients living in CC. More work needs to be done to confirm the results and implement VR in clinical settings. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},

keywords = {adult, aged, article, chronic pain, clinical article, complex care, controlled study, discomfort, distress syndrome, female, human, immersion, male, Mood, nausea, Pain, patient care, quality of life, virtual reality, wound care},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{jeanningros_exposure-based_2025,

title = {Exposure-Based Intervention in Virtual Reality to Address Kinesiophobia in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review},

author = {A. Jeanningros and S. Bouchard and A. Potvin-Desrochers},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105025999269&doi=10.3390%2Fjcm14248837&partnerID=40&md5=9c874cbaf8739d404c31fff42aca15db},

doi = {10.3390/jcm14248837},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {14},

number = {24},

abstract = {Background/Objectives: Physical activity alleviates symptoms and may slow Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression, yet many individuals with PD remain sedentary. Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, may represent a significant but underexplored psychological barrier to physical activity in this population. Virtual reality (VR), already effective in phobias, may represent a promising approach to address this challenge. This review initially aimed to systematically examine exposure-based interventions in VR (E-IVR) directly targeting kinesiophobia in PD. Methods: Database searches using keywords such as “kinesiophobia,” “fear of movement,” and “VR” combined with “PD” yielded no eligible studies. Consequently, the scope was broadened to include populations with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, and a narrative review format was adopted to synthesize the available evidence. Furthermore, relevant studies of interventions in VR applied in PD, although not specifically addressing kinesiophobia, are detailed to provide evidence of efficacy and feasibility of VR interventions in PD. Finally, directions are offered to support the creation of E-IVR targeting kinesiophobia in individuals with PD. Results: Meta-analyses in neurological and musculoskeletal populations demonstrate moderate to large reductions in kinesiophobia following VR interventions, although effects vary depending on assessment tools, degree of immersion, and exposure design. In PD, VR has been applied to rehabilitation, anxiety reduction, and quality of life enhancement. These interventions achieved high adherence (≥90%), were well tolerated, and reported no major adverse events. Conclusions: Kinesiophobia is prevalent in PD and could contribute to physical inactivity. E-IVR appears feasible, safe, and innovative for addressing kinesiophobia in people living with PD. © 2025 by the authors.},

keywords = {avoidance behavior, chronic pain, Depression, disease exacerbation, exposure-based intervention, human, in vivo study, kinesiophobia, low back pain, Medline, musculoskeletal pain, outcome expectation, Parkinson disease, Parkinson’s disease, physical activity, quality of life, rehabilitation care, review, Scopus, Self Concept, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{jeanningrosExposureBasedInterventionVirtual2025,

title = {Exposure-Based Intervention in Virtual Reality to Address Kinesiophobia in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review},

author = {A. Jeanningros and S. Bouchard and A. Potvin-Desrochers},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025999269?origin=resultslist},

doi = {10.3390/jcm14248837},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {14},

number = {24},

publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},

abstract = {Background/Objectives: Physical activity alleviates symptoms and may slow Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression, yet many individuals with PD remain sedentary. Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, may represent a significant but underexplored psychological barrier to physical activity in this population. Virtual reality (VR), already effective in phobias, may represent a promising approach to address this challenge. This review initially aimed to systematically examine exposure-based interventions in VR (E-IVR) directly targeting kinesiophobia in PD. Methods: Database searches using keywords such as “kinesiophobia,” “fear of movement,” and “VR” combined with “PD” yielded no eligible studies. Consequently, the scope was broadened to include populations with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, and a narrative review format was adopted to synthesize the available evidence. Furthermore, relevant studies of interventions in VR applied in PD, although not specifically addressing kinesiophobia, are detailed to provide evidence of efficacy and feasibility of VR interventions in PD. Finally, directions are offered to support the creation of E-IVR targeting kinesiophobia in individuals with PD. Results: Meta-analyses in neurological and musculoskeletal populations demonstrate moderate to large reductions in kinesiophobia following VR interventions, although effects vary depending on assessment tools, degree of immersion, and exposure design. In PD, VR has been applied to rehabilitation, anxiety reduction, and quality of life enhancement. These interventions achieved high adherence (≥90%), were well tolerated, and reported no major adverse events. Conclusions: Kinesiophobia is prevalent in PD and could contribute to physical inactivity. E-IVR appears feasible, safe, and innovative for addressing kinesiophobia in people living with PD. © 2025 by the authors.},

keywords = {avoidance behavior, chronic pain, Depression, disease exacerbation, exposure-based intervention, human, in vivo study, kinesiophobia, low back pain, Medline, musculoskeletal pain, outcome expectation, Parkinson disease, Parkinson’s disease, physical activity, quality of life, rehabilitation care, review, Scopus, Self Concept, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{sheehyImmersiveVirtualReality2025,

title = {Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences can Decrease Pain and Distress in Patients Living in Complex Care},

author = {L. Sheehy and H. Finestone and S. Bouchard and K. Dezeeuw and P. Doering and N. Dunlop and H. Sveistrup},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023893911?origin=resultslist},

issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},

volume = {23},

pages = {272–278},

publisher = {Interactive Media Institute},

abstract = {Patients living in complex care (CC) frequently experience pain. The study goals were to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR), and the potential for VR to impact pain, mood, and quality of life in two groups of patients living in CC, those experiencing acute pain during wound dressing changes and those experiencing chronic pain. Participants were offered 30 minutes of immersive, passive VR experiences using a Meta Quest 2 headset, 3 times/week for 3 weeks. Pain and mood were assessed pre, during and post each VR session. Pain, mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the 3-week intervention. Feasibility was assessed after each session. Three women (average age 66.3) with wound dressing changes completed an average of 3.7 sessions (25.5 minutes/session). Two-thirds experienced meaningful declines in pain with VR. Seventeen participants (6 men, 11 women, average age 58.4) with chronic pain completed an average of 3.1 sessions (21.4 minutes/session). Pain was significantly decreased from pre to post VR and pre to during VR. Mood and quality of life did not change. Both groups had low levels of discomfort and nausea, and high levels of satisfaction and immersiveness. Most participants enjoyed the experience and appreciated the immersion. It was challenging to adapt the headset to patients in non-seated positions who could not use VR controllers. VR is a promising modality to manage pain in patients living in CC. More work needs to be done to confirm the results and implement VR in clinical settings. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},

keywords = {adult, aged, article, chronic pain, clinical article, complex care, controlled study, discomfort, distress syndrome, female, human, immersion, male, Mood, nausea, Pain, patient care, quality of life, virtual reality, wound care},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{sheehyImmersiveVirtualReality2025a,

title = {Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences can Decrease Pain and Distress in Patients Living in Complex Care},

author = {L. Sheehy and H. Finestone and S. Bouchard and K. Dezeeuw and P. Doering and N. Dunlop and H. Sveistrup},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023893911&partnerID=40&md5=cf29113c44db0b13e00df2e34acbc141},

issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},

volume = {23},

pages = {272–278},

abstract = {Patients living in complex care (CC) frequently experience pain. The study goals were to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR), and the potential for VR to impact pain, mood, and quality of life in two groups of patients living in CC, those experiencing acute pain during wound dressing changes and those experiencing chronic pain. Participants were offered 30 minutes of immersive, passive VR experiences using a Meta Quest 2 headset, 3 times/week for 3 weeks. Pain and mood were assessed pre, during and post each VR session. Pain, mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the 3-week intervention. Feasibility was assessed after each session. Three women (average age 66.3) with wound dressing changes completed an average of 3.7 sessions (25.5 minutes/session). Two-thirds experienced meaningful declines in pain with VR. Seventeen participants (6 men, 11 women, average age 58.4) with chronic pain completed an average of 3.1 sessions (21.4 minutes/session). Pain was significantly decreased from pre to post VR and pre to during VR. Mood and quality of life did not change. Both groups had low levels of discomfort and nausea, and high levels of satisfaction and immersiveness. Most participants enjoyed the experience and appreciated the immersion. It was challenging to adapt the headset to patients in non-seated positions who could not use VR controllers. VR is a promising modality to manage pain in patients living in CC. More work needs to be done to confirm the results and implement VR in clinical settings. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},

keywords = {adult, aged, article, chronic pain, clinical article, complex care, controlled study, discomfort, distress syndrome, female, human, immersion, male, Mood, nausea, Pain, patient care, quality of life, virtual reality, wound care},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{jeanningrosExposureBasedInterventionVirtual2025a,

title = {Exposure-Based Intervention in Virtual Reality to Address Kinesiophobia in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review},

author = {A. Jeanningros and S. Bouchard and A. Potvin-Desrochers},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105025999269&doi=10.3390%2Fjcm14248837&partnerID=40&md5=9c874cbaf8739d404c31fff42aca15db},

doi = {10.3390/jcm14248837},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {14},

number = {24},

abstract = {Background/Objectives: Physical activity alleviates symptoms and may slow Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression, yet many individuals with PD remain sedentary. Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, may represent a significant but underexplored psychological barrier to physical activity in this population. Virtual reality (VR), already effective in phobias, may represent a promising approach to address this challenge. This review initially aimed to systematically examine exposure-based interventions in VR (E-IVR) directly targeting kinesiophobia in PD. Methods: Database searches using keywords such as “kinesiophobia,” “fear of movement,” and “VR” combined with “PD” yielded no eligible studies. Consequently, the scope was broadened to include populations with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, and a narrative review format was adopted to synthesize the available evidence. Furthermore, relevant studies of interventions in VR applied in PD, although not specifically addressing kinesiophobia, are detailed to provide evidence of efficacy and feasibility of VR interventions in PD. Finally, directions are offered to support the creation of E-IVR targeting kinesiophobia in individuals with PD. Results: Meta-analyses in neurological and musculoskeletal populations demonstrate moderate to large reductions in kinesiophobia following VR interventions, although effects vary depending on assessment tools, degree of immersion, and exposure design. In PD, VR has been applied to rehabilitation, anxiety reduction, and quality of life enhancement. These interventions achieved high adherence (≥90%), were well tolerated, and reported no major adverse events. Conclusions: Kinesiophobia is prevalent in PD and could contribute to physical inactivity. E-IVR appears feasible, safe, and innovative for addressing kinesiophobia in people living with PD. © 2025 by the authors.},

keywords = {avoidance behavior, chronic pain, Depression, disease exacerbation, exposure-based intervention, human, in vivo study, kinesiophobia, low back pain, Medline, musculoskeletal pain, outcome expectation, Parkinson disease, Parkinson’s disease, physical activity, quality of life, rehabilitation care, review, Scopus, Self Concept, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{baillot_factors_2023,

title = {Factors Associated with Excess Skin After Bariatric Surgery: a Mixed-Method Study},

author = {A. Baillot and J. Brunet and L. Lemelin and S. A. Gabriel and M. -F. Langlois and A. Tchernof and L. Biertho and R. Rabasa-Lhoret and P. Y. Garneau and A. Aimé and S. Bouchard and A. J. Romain and P. Bernard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163716815&doi=10.1007%2fs11695-023-06698-w&partnerID=40&md5=c86ee43b5f7daf6c350936d38944d013},

doi = {10.1007/s11695-023-06698-w},

issn = {09608923 (ISSN)},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Obesity Surgery},

volume = {33},

number = {8},

pages = {2324–2334},

publisher = {Springer},

abstract = {Purpose: After metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), many patients have excess skin (ES), which can cause inconveniences. Identifying factors related to ES quantity and inconveniences is crucial to inform interventions. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic, physical, psychosocial, and behavioral factors associated with ES quantity and inconveniences. Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study with a sequential explanatory design was conducted with 124 adults (92% women, M age 46.5 ± 9.9 years, M time post-MBS 34.2 ± 27.6 months). During phase I, ES quantity (arms, abdomen, thighs) and inconveniences and sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, and behavioral outcomes were assessed. In phase II, 7 focus groups were performed with 37 participants from phase I. A triangulation protocol was completed to identify convergences, complementarities, and dissonances from quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Quantitative data indicate only ES quantity on arms was associated with ES inconveniences on arms (r =.36, p <.01). Total ES quantity was associated with maximal body mass index (BMI) reached pre-MBS (r =.48, p <.05) and current BMI (r =.35, p <.05). Greater ES inconvenience was associated with higher social physique anxiety and age (R 2 =.50, p <.01). Qualitative data were summarized into 4 themes: psychosocial experiences living with ES, physical ailments due to ES, essential support and unmet needs, and beliefs of ES quantity causes. Conclusion: Measured ES quantity is related to higher BMI, but not reported inconveniences. Greater self-reported ES quantity and inconveniences were associated with body image concerns. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.},

note = {Publisher: Springer},

keywords = {adult, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, anthropometry, Anxiety, article, asthma, Bariatric Surgery, body dissatisfaction, body image, body mass, Body Mass Index, controlled study, dermatomycosis, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, employment status, excess skin, female, heart disease, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, household income, human, Humans, hypertension, major clinical study, male, Mental health, Middle Aged, Mixed methods, Morbid, morbid obesity, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, obesity, physical activity, procedures, psychology, qualitative analysis, quality of life, quantitative analysis, sedentary time, skin irritation, skin malformation, sleep apnea syndromes, social psychology, Social Support, stria, sun exposure},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{baillotFactorsAssociatedExcess2023,

title = {Factors Associated with Excess Skin After Bariatric Surgery: a Mixed-Method Study},

author = {A. Baillot and J. Brunet and L. Lemelin and S. A. Gabriel and M. -F. Langlois and A. Tchernof and L. Biertho and R. Rabasa-Lhoret and P. Y. Garneau and A. Aimé and S. Bouchard and A. J. Romain and P. Bernard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163716815&doi=10.1007%2fs11695-023-06698-w&partnerID=40&md5=c86ee43b5f7daf6c350936d38944d013},

doi = {10.1007/s11695-023-06698-w},

issn = {09608923 (ISSN)},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Obesity Surgery},

volume = {33},

number = {8},

pages = {2324–2334},

publisher = {Springer},

abstract = {Purpose: After metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), many patients have excess skin (ES), which can cause inconveniences. Identifying factors related to ES quantity and inconveniences is crucial to inform interventions. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic, physical, psychosocial, and behavioral factors associated with ES quantity and inconveniences. Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study with a sequential explanatory design was conducted with 124 adults (92% women, M age 46.5 ± 9.9 years, M time post-MBS 34.2 ± 27.6 months). During phase I, ES quantity (arms, abdomen, thighs) and inconveniences and sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, and behavioral outcomes were assessed. In phase II, 7 focus groups were performed with 37 participants from phase I. A triangulation protocol was completed to identify convergences, complementarities, and dissonances from quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Quantitative data indicate only ES quantity on arms was associated with ES inconveniences on arms (r =.36, p <.01). Total ES quantity was associated with maximal body mass index (BMI) reached pre-MBS (r =.48, p <.05) and current BMI (r =.35, p <.05). Greater ES inconvenience was associated with higher social physique anxiety and age (R 2 =.50, p <.01). Qualitative data were summarized into 4 themes: psychosocial experiences living with ES, physical ailments due to ES, essential support and unmet needs, and beliefs of ES quantity causes. Conclusion: Measured ES quantity is related to higher BMI, but not reported inconveniences. Greater self-reported ES quantity and inconveniences were associated with body image concerns. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.},

keywords = {adult, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, anthropometry, Anxiety, article, asthma, Bariatric Surgery, body dissatisfaction, body image, body mass, Body Mass Index, controlled study, dermatomycosis, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, employment status, excess skin, female, heart disease, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, household income, human, Humans, hypertension, major clinical study, male, Mental health, Middle Aged, Mixed methods, Morbid, morbid obesity, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, obesity, physical activity, procedures, psychology, qualitative analysis, quality of life, quantitative analysis, sedentary time, skin irritation, skin malformation, sleep apnea syndromes, social psychology, Social Support, stria, sun exposure},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bouchard_multisite_2022,

title = {A Multisite Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Delivered by Videoconference},

author = {S. Bouchard and M. J. Dugas and G. Belleville and F. Langlois and P. Gosselin and G. Robillard and G. Corno and A. Marchand},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85139777758&doi=10.3390%2fjcm11195924&partnerID=40&md5=52cbc697b3a9705b2f7fb87b7bfdc3eb},

doi = {10.3390/jcm11195924},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {11},

number = {19},

publisher = {MDPI},

abstract = {Delivering psychotherapy by videoconference has been studied in a number of clinical trials, but no large controlled trial has involved generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This multicenter randomized controlled non-inferiority trial was conducted to test if cognitive-behavior psychotherapy delivered by videoconference (VCP) is as effective as cognitive-behavior psychotherapy delivered face-to-face, using a strict margin of tolerance for non-inferiority. A total of 148 adults received a 15-session weekly manualized program. The treatment was based on the intolerance of uncertainty model of GAD. The impact of treatment was assessed using primary (GAD severity), secondary (worry, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty) and tertiary (general functioning) variables measured before and after treatment and at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Results showed that: (a) the treatment was effective; (b) VCP for GAD was statistically non-inferior to face-to-face psychotherapy on primary, secondary and tertiary measures at all assessment points; (c) change in intolerance of uncertainty significantly predicted change in the primary outcome measure over and above important clinical factors common to all psychotherapies (motivation, working alliance, perceived therapist competence, and client satisfaction). These findings support the use of VCP as a promising treatment option for adults with GAD. Clinical trial registry: ISRCTN#12662027. © 2022 by the authors.},

note = {Publisher: MDPI},

keywords = {adult, Anxiety, article, Beck Depression Inventory, cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive-behavior therapy, competence, controlled study, female, follow up, generalized anxiety disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, human, Likert scale, major clinical study, male, motivation, multicenter study, non-inferiority, patient worry, penn state worry questionnaire, predictors of outcome, psychotherapist, quality of life, randomized controlled trial, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, treatment outcome, videoconferencing, videoconferencing psychotherapy, World Health Organization},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}