Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangle_speaking_2026,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105028302364&doi=10.1016%2Fj.jfludis.2026.106194&partnerID=40&md5=af0d246f9187ee19796f36456887400b},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.
2.
Ouellet-Courtois, C.; Bouchard, S.; Giguère, C. -E.; Koszycki, D.; Lavoie, M. E.; Aardema, F.
Cognitive mechanisms of change in OCD: Inferential confusion, obsessive beliefs, and mindfulness across three randomized treatments Journal Article
In: Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 201, 2026, ISSN: 00057967 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, behavior therapy, benzodiazepine, clinical outcome, clinical trial, cognition, cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive mechanisms of change, confusion, confusion (uncertainty), controlled study, Depression, exposure and response prevention, female, human, Humans, Implosive Therapy, inference based cognitive behavioral therapy, Inferential confusion, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reduction, multicenter study, obsession, obsessive compulsive disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, procedures, psychology, randomized controlled trial, risk factor, Sensitivity analysis, Therapy, treatment outcome, Young Adult
@article{ouellet-courtoisCognitiveMechanismsChange2026,
title = {Cognitive mechanisms of change in OCD: Inferential confusion, obsessive beliefs, and mindfulness across three randomized treatments},
author = {C. Ouellet-Courtois and S. Bouchard and C. -E. Giguère and D. Koszycki and M. E. Lavoie and F. Aardema},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034701697?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1016/j.brat.2026.105022},
issn = {00057967 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Behaviour Research and Therapy},
volume = {201},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is widely regarded as the gold-standard psychological treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) represents a distinct cognitive approach that targets inferential confusion, defined as a reasoning process whereby imagined possibilities are treated as reflecting reality, without relying on deliberate exposure. The present study reports further mechanism-focused analyses from a previously published multicenter randomized controlled trial (Aardema et al., 2022; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01794156) comparing CBT with ERP, I-CBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for OCD. A total of 111 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD were randomized to one of three treatment conditions. Across treatments, therapy was associated with significant reductions in inferential confusion and obsessive belief domains, whereas dispositional mindfulness did not show significant change. At the bivariate level, residualized changes in inferential confusion, obsessive belief domains, and mindfulness were associated with reductions in OCD symptoms. However, when examined concurrently using mixed-effects models, only reductions in inferential confusion accounted for unique symptom improvement over time. This association was consistent across modalities and remained robust after controlling for concurrent anxiety and depression. Sensitivity analyses indicated that psychotropic medication use did not account for this association; controlling for medication strengthened the independent contribution of inferential confusion (partial η2 ≈ .29). These findings indicate that inferential confusion was independently associated with symptom improvement in OCD across therapeutic approaches. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, behavior therapy, benzodiazepine, clinical outcome, clinical trial, cognition, cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive mechanisms of change, confusion, confusion (uncertainty), controlled study, Depression, exposure and response prevention, female, human, Humans, Implosive Therapy, inference based cognitive behavioral therapy, Inferential confusion, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reduction, multicenter study, obsession, obsessive compulsive disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, procedures, psychology, randomized controlled trial, risk factor, Sensitivity analysis, Therapy, treatment outcome, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is widely regarded as the gold-standard psychological treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) represents a distinct cognitive approach that targets inferential confusion, defined as a reasoning process whereby imagined possibilities are treated as reflecting reality, without relying on deliberate exposure. The present study reports further mechanism-focused analyses from a previously published multicenter randomized controlled trial (Aardema et al., 2022; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01794156) comparing CBT with ERP, I-CBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for OCD. A total of 111 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD were randomized to one of three treatment conditions. Across treatments, therapy was associated with significant reductions in inferential confusion and obsessive belief domains, whereas dispositional mindfulness did not show significant change. At the bivariate level, residualized changes in inferential confusion, obsessive belief domains, and mindfulness were associated with reductions in OCD symptoms. However, when examined concurrently using mixed-effects models, only reductions in inferential confusion accounted for unique symptom improvement over time. This association was consistent across modalities and remained robust after controlling for concurrent anxiety and depression. Sensitivity analyses indicated that psychotropic medication use did not account for this association; controlling for medication strengthened the independent contribution of inferential confusion (partial η2 ≈ .29). These findings indicate that inferential confusion was independently associated with symptom improvement in OCD across therapeutic approaches. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd
3.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangleSpeakingFacetofaceVirtual2026,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028302364?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
publisher = {Elsevier Inc.},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.
4.
Corno, G.; Zamora, Á.; Bouchard, S.; Baños, R.; Baillot, A.; Monthuy-Blanc, J.
Exploring Virtual Reality for Body Image Assessment and Psychological Interventions in Individuals With Obesity: a Comprehensive Review Journal Article
In: Obesity Reviews, vol. 27, no. 4, 2026, ISSN: 14677881 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 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
@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}
}
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.
5.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangleSpeakingFacetofaceVirtual2026a,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105028302364&doi=10.1016%2Fj.jfludis.2026.106194&partnerID=40&md5=af0d246f9187ee19796f36456887400b},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.
6.
Ørskov, P. T.; Runge, E.; Sainte-Marie, T. T. H.; Ernst, M. T.; Clemmensen, L.; Dalsgaard, C. H.; Lichtenstein, M. B.; Bouchard, S.
In: Frontiers in Virtual Reality, vol. 6, 2025, ISSN: 26734192 (ISSN), (Publisher: Frontiers Media SA).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 360° video, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, virtual reality
@article{orskov_virtual_2025,
title = {Virtual reality-based exposure with 360° video as part of cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: a three-arm randomized controlled trial},
author = {P. T. Ørskov and E. Runge and T. T. H. Sainte-Marie and M. T. Ernst and L. Clemmensen and C. H. Dalsgaard and M. B. Lichtenstein and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105009844371&doi=10.3389%2Ffrvir.2025.1588181&partnerID=40&md5=eb28bc502f030b1af4bff5592815253b},
doi = {10.3389/frvir.2025.1588181},
issn = {26734192 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality},
volume = {6},
abstract = {Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) has a high prevalence and an early onset. It often persists well into adulthood, turning into a chronic disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating SAD, but real-life exposure conducted as part of CBT is often costly and time-consuming, and imaginary exposure might lack realism and intensity. Virtual reality (VR)-based exposure using 360° video offers a promising way to deliver exposure therapy. Objective: To develop a complete psychotherapeutic treatment program including CBT with VR-based exposure using 360° videos (CBT-ExpVR) for adult patients with SAD and to test the treatment effect using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) as the primary outcome. Methods: This three-arm randomized controlled trial involved 51 participants who were recruited through self-referral. The interventions took place at Center for Digital Psychiatry in Denmark. Participants were randomized via computer program to CBT-ExpVR, CBT with in vivo exposure (CBT-Exp), or an active control group offered VR relaxation (RlxVR). Afterwards, participants assigned to RlxVR were re-randomized to one of the two CBT interventions. Allocation was not blinded. Results: Intention-to-treat analysis showed that participants receiving CBT-ExpVR reported significantly fewer symptoms of social anxiety at post-treatment compared to pre-treatment, β = −14.89, 95% CI (−18.64, −11.14), p < 0.0001. At post-treatment, no difference in treatment effect was found between CBT-ExpVR and CBT-Exp, β = 3.643, 95% CI (−1.727, 9.013)},
note = {Publisher: Frontiers Media SA},
keywords = {360° video, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) has a high prevalence and an early onset. It often persists well into adulthood, turning into a chronic disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating SAD, but real-life exposure conducted as part of CBT is often costly and time-consuming, and imaginary exposure might lack realism and intensity. Virtual reality (VR)-based exposure using 360° video offers a promising way to deliver exposure therapy. Objective: To develop a complete psychotherapeutic treatment program including CBT with VR-based exposure using 360° videos (CBT-ExpVR) for adult patients with SAD and to test the treatment effect using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) as the primary outcome. Methods: This three-arm randomized controlled trial involved 51 participants who were recruited through self-referral. The interventions took place at Center for Digital Psychiatry in Denmark. Participants were randomized via computer program to CBT-ExpVR, CBT with in vivo exposure (CBT-Exp), or an active control group offered VR relaxation (RlxVR). Afterwards, participants assigned to RlxVR were re-randomized to one of the two CBT interventions. Allocation was not blinded. Results: Intention-to-treat analysis showed that participants receiving CBT-ExpVR reported significantly fewer symptoms of social anxiety at post-treatment compared to pre-treatment, β = −14.89, 95% CI (−18.64, −11.14), p < 0.0001. At post-treatment, no difference in treatment effect was found between CBT-ExpVR and CBT-Exp, β = 3.643, 95% CI (−1.727, 9.013)
7.
Chrétien, S.; Giroux, I.; Smith, I.; Jacques, C.; Ferland, F.; Sévigny, S.; Bouchard, S.
Emotional Regulation in Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Treatment: A Systematic Review Journal Article
In: Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 353–448, 2025, ISSN: 10505350 (ISSN), (Publisher: Springer).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: addiction, Addictive, Addictive disorders, behavior, cognitive behavioral therapy, drug dependence, emotion regulation, Emotional Regulation, Gambling, human, Humans, internet addiction, Internet Addiction Disorder, Intervention, Non-substance-related disorders, procedures, psychology, Substance use disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, systematic review, Therapy
@article{chretien_emotional_2025,
title = {Emotional Regulation in Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Treatment: A Systematic Review},
author = {S. Chrétien and I. Giroux and I. Smith and C. Jacques and F. Ferland and S. Sévigny and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85217537329&doi=10.1007%2Fs10899-024-10366-8&partnerID=40&md5=983d265abca0e51a5a20d5ce34e1696a},
doi = {10.1007/s10899-024-10366-8},
issn = {10505350 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Gambling Studies},
volume = {41},
number = {2},
pages = {353–448},
abstract = {Emotions play an undeniable role in addictive disorders. Given the high relapse and drop-out rates still prevalent in current treatments, it is crucial to explore curative alternatives that take greater account of emotions. The primary objective of this systematic review is to gather literature related to emotion regulation in psychological addictive disorders treatments. The aim is to describe its use for individuals with behavioral (such as gambling disorder, problematic Internet gaming, and Internet addiction) or substance-related disorders. Following a screening of nearly 12,000 articles from six databases and the grey literature, 38 studies that met the selection criteria were included. The results show that 63.2% of the studies had a psychological treatment predominantly based on emotional regulation, with 81.6% (n = 31) of third-wave cognitive-behavioral interventions. The most frequently utilized intervention techniques for emotional regulation were those that facilitated an individual's awareness of their emotional state or provided psychological education to assist in identifying emotions. It would be valuable for future research to explore the most effective content for emotional regulation in treating substance-related and addictive disorders and to determine the specific client population that would benefit the most from this treatment. © The Author(s) 2025.},
note = {Publisher: Springer},
keywords = {addiction, Addictive, Addictive disorders, behavior, cognitive behavioral therapy, drug dependence, emotion regulation, Emotional Regulation, Gambling, human, Humans, internet addiction, Internet Addiction Disorder, Intervention, Non-substance-related disorders, procedures, psychology, Substance use disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, systematic review, Therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Emotions play an undeniable role in addictive disorders. Given the high relapse and drop-out rates still prevalent in current treatments, it is crucial to explore curative alternatives that take greater account of emotions. The primary objective of this systematic review is to gather literature related to emotion regulation in psychological addictive disorders treatments. The aim is to describe its use for individuals with behavioral (such as gambling disorder, problematic Internet gaming, and Internet addiction) or substance-related disorders. Following a screening of nearly 12,000 articles from six databases and the grey literature, 38 studies that met the selection criteria were included. The results show that 63.2% of the studies had a psychological treatment predominantly based on emotional regulation, with 81.6% (n = 31) of third-wave cognitive-behavioral interventions. The most frequently utilized intervention techniques for emotional regulation were those that facilitated an individual's awareness of their emotional state or provided psychological education to assist in identifying emotions. It would be valuable for future research to explore the most effective content for emotional regulation in treating substance-related and addictive disorders and to determine the specific client population that would benefit the most from this treatment. © The Author(s) 2025.
8.
Bouchard, S.; Forget, H.
Conducting exposure in virtual reality for the treatment of social phobia does lead to change in dysfunctional beliefs Journal Article
In: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 23, pp. 258–264, 2025, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, article, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, controlled study, exposure, female, follow up, hospital admission, human, in vivo study, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, multiple regression, predictors of outcome, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, social phobia, Social Phobia Scale, threat, treatment duration, Treatment mechanisms, treatment outcome, virtual reality
@article{bouchard_conducting_2025,
title = {Conducting exposure in virtual reality for the treatment of social phobia does lead to change in dysfunctional beliefs},
author = {S. Bouchard and H. Forget},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023856314&partnerID=40&md5=db4c4e86d7c32b544fe28c7fb6f9172b},
issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {23},
pages = {258–264},
abstract = {This study used data from a randomized control trial on cognitive behavior therapy for social phobia testing the effectiveness of exposure conducted in virtual reality. Measures of cognitive mechanisms had been collected but never analyzed. The study was motivated by a recent publication mentioning that potential aversive outcomes of being judged in virtual reality and by virtual characters have no objective negative consequence in daily life. A sample of 51 adults completed outcome and cognitive mechanism measures at a pretreatment, after 14 weeks of treatment or being on a waiting list, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results demonstrate that conducting exposure in virtual reality led to reductions in dysfunctional beliefs about the perceived consequences of feared social threats, about the likelihood of these feared threats occurring, as well as an increase in perceived self-efficacy to face social situations. These changes were statistically significant when compared to the waiting list condition, remained stable at the 6-month follow-up, and were no less important than when exposure was conducted in vivo. All predictors significantly correlated (p < .001) with the two measures of treatment outcome. Further analyses of cognitive mechanism measures predicting treatment outcomes revealed that, when controlling for shared variance, changes in perceived likelihood and in self-efficacy contributed significantly to patients’ improvement, whereas the role of perceived consequences was only a predictor of self-efficacy. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {adult, article, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, controlled study, exposure, female, follow up, hospital admission, human, in vivo study, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, multiple regression, predictors of outcome, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, social phobia, Social Phobia Scale, threat, treatment duration, Treatment mechanisms, treatment outcome, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study used data from a randomized control trial on cognitive behavior therapy for social phobia testing the effectiveness of exposure conducted in virtual reality. Measures of cognitive mechanisms had been collected but never analyzed. The study was motivated by a recent publication mentioning that potential aversive outcomes of being judged in virtual reality and by virtual characters have no objective negative consequence in daily life. A sample of 51 adults completed outcome and cognitive mechanism measures at a pretreatment, after 14 weeks of treatment or being on a waiting list, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results demonstrate that conducting exposure in virtual reality led to reductions in dysfunctional beliefs about the perceived consequences of feared social threats, about the likelihood of these feared threats occurring, as well as an increase in perceived self-efficacy to face social situations. These changes were statistically significant when compared to the waiting list condition, remained stable at the 6-month follow-up, and were no less important than when exposure was conducted in vivo. All predictors significantly correlated (p < .001) with the two measures of treatment outcome. Further analyses of cognitive mechanism measures predicting treatment outcomes revealed that, when controlling for shared variance, changes in perceived likelihood and in self-efficacy contributed significantly to patients’ improvement, whereas the role of perceived consequences was only a predictor of self-efficacy. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.
9.
Bouchard, S.; Pessanha, C. Torres; Tober, K. H.
In: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 23, pp. 70–75, 2025, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, agoraphobia, article, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, cognitive behavioral therapy, discriminant validity, female, generalized anxiety disorder, human, major clinical study, male, panic, Patient Satisfaction, psychological rating scale, psychotherapy, questionnaire, social interaction, Telemedicine, telepresence, Telepresence in Videoconference Scale, Telepresence Videoconference Scale, telepsychotherapy, test retest reliability, Test-retest reliability, videoconference, videoconferencing
@article{bouchard_assessing_2025,
title = {Assessing telepresence when delivering psychotherapy in videoconference: relevance and test-retest reliability of the Telepresence Videoconference Scale},
author = {S. Bouchard and C. Torres Pessanha and K. H. Tober},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023903509&partnerID=40&md5=46afce3aea732a9501fc3a1096d67673},
issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {23},
pages = {70–75},
abstract = {The increasing use of psychotherapy delivered via videoconference requires sound methods to assess clients' subjective experiences. Telepresence, defined as the feeling of being together in an online session despite the actual physical distance, is receiving increased attention as an important concept. The Telepresence in Videoconference Scale (TVS) assesses client telepresence during psychotherapy sessions and has been initially validated. However, its stability across sessions and its independence from the concept of treatment satisfaction need further evaluation. This paper presents an overview of studies using the TVS and examines the psychometric properties of the TVS in 65 adults (mean age = 39.9},
keywords = {adult, agoraphobia, article, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, cognitive behavioral therapy, discriminant validity, female, generalized anxiety disorder, human, major clinical study, male, panic, Patient Satisfaction, psychological rating scale, psychotherapy, questionnaire, social interaction, Telemedicine, telepresence, Telepresence in Videoconference Scale, Telepresence Videoconference Scale, telepsychotherapy, test retest reliability, Test-retest reliability, videoconference, videoconferencing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The increasing use of psychotherapy delivered via videoconference requires sound methods to assess clients' subjective experiences. Telepresence, defined as the feeling of being together in an online session despite the actual physical distance, is receiving increased attention as an important concept. The Telepresence in Videoconference Scale (TVS) assesses client telepresence during psychotherapy sessions and has been initially validated. However, its stability across sessions and its independence from the concept of treatment satisfaction need further evaluation. This paper presents an overview of studies using the TVS and examines the psychometric properties of the TVS in 65 adults (mean age = 39.9
10.
Bouchard, S.; Forget, H.
Conducting exposure in virtual reality for the treatment of social phobia does lead to change in dysfunctional beliefs Journal Article
In: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 23, pp. 258–264, 2025, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, article, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, controlled study, exposure, female, follow up, hospital admission, human, in vivo study, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, multiple regression, predictors of outcome, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, social phobia, Social Phobia Scale, threat, treatment duration, Treatment mechanisms, treatment outcome, virtual reality
@article{bouchardConductingExposureVirtual2025,
title = {Conducting exposure in virtual reality for the treatment of social phobia does lead to change in dysfunctional beliefs},
author = {S. Bouchard and H. Forget},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023856314?origin=resultslist},
issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {23},
pages = {258–264},
publisher = {Interactive Media Institute},
abstract = {This study used data from a randomized control trial on cognitive behavior therapy for social phobia testing the effectiveness of exposure conducted in virtual reality. Measures of cognitive mechanisms had been collected but never analyzed. The study was motivated by a recent publication mentioning that potential aversive outcomes of being judged in virtual reality and by virtual characters have no objective negative consequence in daily life. A sample of 51 adults completed outcome and cognitive mechanism measures at a pretreatment, after 14 weeks of treatment or being on a waiting list, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results demonstrate that conducting exposure in virtual reality led to reductions in dysfunctional beliefs about the perceived consequences of feared social threats, about the likelihood of these feared threats occurring, as well as an increase in perceived self-efficacy to face social situations. These changes were statistically significant when compared to the waiting list condition, remained stable at the 6-month follow-up, and were no less important than when exposure was conducted in vivo. All predictors significantly correlated (p < .001) with the two measures of treatment outcome. Further analyses of cognitive mechanism measures predicting treatment outcomes revealed that, when controlling for shared variance, changes in perceived likelihood and in self-efficacy contributed significantly to patients’ improvement, whereas the role of perceived consequences was only a predictor of self-efficacy. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {adult, article, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, controlled study, exposure, female, follow up, hospital admission, human, in vivo study, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, multiple regression, predictors of outcome, randomized controlled trial, social anxiety disorder, social phobia, Social Phobia Scale, threat, treatment duration, Treatment mechanisms, treatment outcome, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study used data from a randomized control trial on cognitive behavior therapy for social phobia testing the effectiveness of exposure conducted in virtual reality. Measures of cognitive mechanisms had been collected but never analyzed. The study was motivated by a recent publication mentioning that potential aversive outcomes of being judged in virtual reality and by virtual characters have no objective negative consequence in daily life. A sample of 51 adults completed outcome and cognitive mechanism measures at a pretreatment, after 14 weeks of treatment or being on a waiting list, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results demonstrate that conducting exposure in virtual reality led to reductions in dysfunctional beliefs about the perceived consequences of feared social threats, about the likelihood of these feared threats occurring, as well as an increase in perceived self-efficacy to face social situations. These changes were statistically significant when compared to the waiting list condition, remained stable at the 6-month follow-up, and were no less important than when exposure was conducted in vivo. All predictors significantly correlated (p < .001) with the two measures of treatment outcome. Further analyses of cognitive mechanism measures predicting treatment outcomes revealed that, when controlling for shared variance, changes in perceived likelihood and in self-efficacy contributed significantly to patients’ improvement, whereas the role of perceived consequences was only a predictor of self-efficacy. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.