Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Guingo, E.; Debeurme, M. H.; Santos, R. P.; Addab, S.; Rainville, P.; Bouchard, S.; Chougui, K.; Tsimicalis, A.; Nault, M. -L.; Ducruet, T.; Ledjiar, O.; Noel, M.; St-Arneault, K.; Cotes-Turpin, C.; Hung, N.; Ouimet, P.; Parent, S.; Gardner, J.; Bernstein, M.; May, S. Le
Efficacy of Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Games for Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Bone Pins Removal: Randomised Clinical Trial Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 82, no 2, p. 1791–1802, 2026, ISSN: 03092402 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: Adolescent, analgesia, Anxiety, Bone Nails, Child, Children, clinical trial, comparative study, controlled study, female, human, Humans, intramedullary nailing, male, multicenter study, Pain Management, procedural pain, procedures, randomized controlled trial, Therapy, video game, Video Games, virtual reality
@article{guingo_efficacy_2026,
title = {Efficacy of Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Games for Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Bone Pins Removal: Randomised Clinical Trial},
author = {E. Guingo and M. H. Debeurme and R. P. Santos and S. Addab and P. Rainville and S. Bouchard and K. Chougui and A. Tsimicalis and M. -L. Nault and T. Ducruet and O. Ledjiar and M. Noel and K. St-Arneault and C. Cotes-Turpin and N. Hung and P. Ouimet and S. Parent and J. Gardner and M. Bernstein and S. Le May},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105004216228&doi=10.1111%2Fjan.16991&partnerID=40&md5=9200a82b5c9572abcc5170e9c9d6142b},
doi = {10.1111/jan.16991},
issn = {03092402 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Nursing},
volume = {82},
number = {2},
pages = {1791–1802},
abstract = {Aims: To verify the efficacy of virtual reality compared to tablet games for pain and anxiety management in children undergoing percutaneous bone pin and/or suture removal procedures. Design: Randomised clinical trial using two parallel groups: (1) virtual reality or (2) tablet game. Methods: Three-center, randomised pragmatic clinical trial, using a parallel design with two groups (experimental group: immersive virtual reality; active comparator: tablet games). Children aged 6–17 requiring percutaneous pins and/or sutures were recruited between 2020 and 2022 from three outpatient orthopaedic clinics in paediatric hospitals. Pain was measured with the Numerical Rating Scale and anxiety with the Child Fear Scale before and immediately after the procedure. Results: A total of 188 participants were assigned to either the virtual reality group (96 participants) or the tablet group (92 participants). At the first assessment, there was no noticeable difference between the two groups in terms of pain or anxiety levels. However, further analysis revealed that participants aged 13 and older in the virtual reality group experienced significantly lower anxiety. Conclusion: Virtual reality was not more efficacious than games on a tablet for pain and anxiety of children undergoing removal of bone pins or sutures. However, virtual reality demonstrated a benefit in reducing anxiety for teenagers, particularly those aged 13-older. Implication for the Professional and/or Patient Care: Virtual reality games provide an immersive, non-pharmacological alternative of for anxiety management of teenagers during pins and/or sutures removal. Impact: This study showed that a virtual reality game may help reduce anxiety during pins and/or sutures removal procedures in patients aged 13 years and older. Reporting Method: We adhered to the CONSORT checklist for reporting results. Patient or Public Contribution: A patient partner reviewed the study design, methods and final manuscript. Trial Registration: NCT03680625. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.},
keywords = {Adolescent, analgesia, Anxiety, Bone Nails, Child, Children, clinical trial, comparative study, controlled study, female, human, Humans, intramedullary nailing, male, multicenter study, Pain Management, procedural pain, procedures, randomized controlled trial, Therapy, video game, Video Games, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Aims: To verify the efficacy of virtual reality compared to tablet games for pain and anxiety management in children undergoing percutaneous bone pin and/or suture removal procedures. Design: Randomised clinical trial using two parallel groups: (1) virtual reality or (2) tablet game. Methods: Three-center, randomised pragmatic clinical trial, using a parallel design with two groups (experimental group: immersive virtual reality; active comparator: tablet games). Children aged 6–17 requiring percutaneous pins and/or sutures were recruited between 2020 and 2022 from three outpatient orthopaedic clinics in paediatric hospitals. Pain was measured with the Numerical Rating Scale and anxiety with the Child Fear Scale before and immediately after the procedure. Results: A total of 188 participants were assigned to either the virtual reality group (96 participants) or the tablet group (92 participants). At the first assessment, there was no noticeable difference between the two groups in terms of pain or anxiety levels. However, further analysis revealed that participants aged 13 and older in the virtual reality group experienced significantly lower anxiety. Conclusion: Virtual reality was not more efficacious than games on a tablet for pain and anxiety of children undergoing removal of bone pins or sutures. However, virtual reality demonstrated a benefit in reducing anxiety for teenagers, particularly those aged 13-older. Implication for the Professional and/or Patient Care: Virtual reality games provide an immersive, non-pharmacological alternative of for anxiety management of teenagers during pins and/or sutures removal. Impact: This study showed that a virtual reality game may help reduce anxiety during pins and/or sutures removal procedures in patients aged 13 years and older. Reporting Method: We adhered to the CONSORT checklist for reporting results. Patient or Public Contribution: A patient partner reviewed the study design, methods and final manuscript. Trial Registration: NCT03680625. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
2.
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 Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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.
3.
Monthuy-Blanc, J.; Fortin, G.; Corno, G.; Bouchard, S.
Dans: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 16, 2026, ISSN: 16641078 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional eating attitude and behaviors, eating concerns, eating pathology, physical self-perceptions, self-esteem, shape concerns, virtual reality
@article{monthuy-blanc_examining_2026,
title = {Examining the distinctiveness of body image and self-related constructs in eating disorders using virtual reality: the role of shape concerns, physical self-worth, and global self-worth},
author = {J. Monthuy-Blanc and G. Fortin and G. Corno and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105029796609&doi=10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2025.1649698&partnerID=40&md5=6051a2b03589f05fea165ff9d1d84200},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649698},
issn = {16641078 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {16},
abstract = {Introduction: In Western culture, the female body is commonly socially perceived as an object of evaluation, causing women to frequently evaluate their self-worth based on their physical appearance. Since the last decade, the use of virtual reality (VR) helped clarify the intricate interplay between broader self-related dimensions and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in women with eating disorders (EDs). The first objective of this study explores the role of body image attitudes (i.e., perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns), global self-worth, and physical self-worth in determining visual-perceptual body image representations (i.e., allocentric and egocentric ideal and self-perceived body size) and visual-perceptual body image disturbances (i.e., allocentric and egocentric visual-perceptual body dissatisfaction) in a sample of women with EDs. Additionally, the second objective is to explore the role of body image variables (in terms of attitudes: perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns; and in terms of visual-perceptual body image disturbances), global self-worth, physical self-worth, in determining dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors (i.e., eating concerns, restraint, and bulimia) in women with EDs. Methods: The sample involved 96 self-identified female participants. Pearson's bivariate correlations and multiple linear regressions analyses were conducted to investigate the study's objectives. A VR-based figure rating scale was used to perform visual depictive body size estimation tasks in an allocentric and egocentric perspectives. Results: The findings indicate that physical self-worth and shape concerns are the primary variables related to visual-perceptual body image dissatisfaction. Shape concerns is also associated with eating concerns. Discussion: This study emphasizes the critical role of physical self-worth and shape concerns as common variables of interest in relation to both visual-perceptual body image representations and disturbances, as well as shape concerns for dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors. These findings clarify the understating of the intricate interplay between body image, broader self-related dimensions, and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in EDs. Copyright © 2026 Monthuy-Blanc, Fortin, Corno and Bouchard.},
keywords = {body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional eating attitude and behaviors, eating concerns, eating pathology, physical self-perceptions, self-esteem, shape concerns, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: In Western culture, the female body is commonly socially perceived as an object of evaluation, causing women to frequently evaluate their self-worth based on their physical appearance. Since the last decade, the use of virtual reality (VR) helped clarify the intricate interplay between broader self-related dimensions and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in women with eating disorders (EDs). The first objective of this study explores the role of body image attitudes (i.e., perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns), global self-worth, and physical self-worth in determining visual-perceptual body image representations (i.e., allocentric and egocentric ideal and self-perceived body size) and visual-perceptual body image disturbances (i.e., allocentric and egocentric visual-perceptual body dissatisfaction) in a sample of women with EDs. Additionally, the second objective is to explore the role of body image variables (in terms of attitudes: perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns; and in terms of visual-perceptual body image disturbances), global self-worth, physical self-worth, in determining dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors (i.e., eating concerns, restraint, and bulimia) in women with EDs. Methods: The sample involved 96 self-identified female participants. Pearson's bivariate correlations and multiple linear regressions analyses were conducted to investigate the study's objectives. A VR-based figure rating scale was used to perform visual depictive body size estimation tasks in an allocentric and egocentric perspectives. Results: The findings indicate that physical self-worth and shape concerns are the primary variables related to visual-perceptual body image dissatisfaction. Shape concerns is also associated with eating concerns. Discussion: This study emphasizes the critical role of physical self-worth and shape concerns as common variables of interest in relation to both visual-perceptual body image representations and disturbances, as well as shape concerns for dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors. These findings clarify the understating of the intricate interplay between body image, broader self-related dimensions, and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in EDs. Copyright © 2026 Monthuy-Blanc, Fortin, Corno and Bouchard.
4.
Monthuy-Blanc, J.; Fortin, G.; Corno, G.; Bouchard, S.
Dans: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 16, 2026, ISSN: 16641078 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional eating attitude and behaviors, eating concerns, eating pathology, physical self-perceptions, self-esteem, shape concerns, virtual reality
@article{monthuy-blancExaminingDistinctivenessBody2026,
title = {Examining the distinctiveness of body image and self-related constructs in eating disorders using virtual reality: the role of shape concerns, physical self-worth, and global self-worth},
author = {J. Monthuy-Blanc and G. Fortin and G. Corno and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105029796609?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649698},
issn = {16641078 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {16},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Introduction: In Western culture, the female body is commonly socially perceived as an object of evaluation, causing women to frequently evaluate their self-worth based on their physical appearance. Since the last decade, the use of virtual reality (VR) helped clarify the intricate interplay between broader self-related dimensions and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in women with eating disorders (EDs). The first objective of this study explores the role of body image attitudes (i.e., perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns), global self-worth, and physical self-worth in determining visual-perceptual body image representations (i.e., allocentric and egocentric ideal and self-perceived body size) and visual-perceptual body image disturbances (i.e., allocentric and egocentric visual-perceptual body dissatisfaction) in a sample of women with EDs. Additionally, the second objective is to explore the role of body image variables (in terms of attitudes: perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns; and in terms of visual-perceptual body image disturbances), global self-worth, physical self-worth, in determining dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors (i.e., eating concerns, restraint, and bulimia) in women with EDs. Methods: The sample involved 96 self-identified female participants. Pearson's bivariate correlations and multiple linear regressions analyses were conducted to investigate the study's objectives. A VR-based figure rating scale was used to perform visual depictive body size estimation tasks in an allocentric and egocentric perspectives. Results: The findings indicate that physical self-worth and shape concerns are the primary variables related to visual-perceptual body image dissatisfaction. Shape concerns is also associated with eating concerns. Discussion: This study emphasizes the critical role of physical self-worth and shape concerns as common variables of interest in relation to both visual-perceptual body image representations and disturbances, as well as shape concerns for dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors. These findings clarify the understating of the intricate interplay between body image, broader self-related dimensions, and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in EDs. Copyright © 2026 Monthuy-Blanc, Fortin, Corno and Bouchard.},
keywords = {body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional eating attitude and behaviors, eating concerns, eating pathology, physical self-perceptions, self-esteem, shape concerns, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: In Western culture, the female body is commonly socially perceived as an object of evaluation, causing women to frequently evaluate their self-worth based on their physical appearance. Since the last decade, the use of virtual reality (VR) helped clarify the intricate interplay between broader self-related dimensions and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in women with eating disorders (EDs). The first objective of this study explores the role of body image attitudes (i.e., perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns), global self-worth, and physical self-worth in determining visual-perceptual body image representations (i.e., allocentric and egocentric ideal and self-perceived body size) and visual-perceptual body image disturbances (i.e., allocentric and egocentric visual-perceptual body dissatisfaction) in a sample of women with EDs. Additionally, the second objective is to explore the role of body image variables (in terms of attitudes: perceived physical attractiveness, body shape concerns; and in terms of visual-perceptual body image disturbances), global self-worth, physical self-worth, in determining dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors (i.e., eating concerns, restraint, and bulimia) in women with EDs. Methods: The sample involved 96 self-identified female participants. Pearson's bivariate correlations and multiple linear regressions analyses were conducted to investigate the study's objectives. A VR-based figure rating scale was used to perform visual depictive body size estimation tasks in an allocentric and egocentric perspectives. Results: The findings indicate that physical self-worth and shape concerns are the primary variables related to visual-perceptual body image dissatisfaction. Shape concerns is also associated with eating concerns. Discussion: This study emphasizes the critical role of physical self-worth and shape concerns as common variables of interest in relation to both visual-perceptual body image representations and disturbances, as well as shape concerns for dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors. These findings clarify the understating of the intricate interplay between body image, broader self-related dimensions, and dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors in EDs. Copyright © 2026 Monthuy-Blanc, Fortin, Corno and Bouchard.
5.
Guingo, E.; Debeurme, M. H.; Santos, R. P.; Addab, S.; Rainville, P.; Bouchard, S.; Chougui, K.; Tsimicalis, A.; Nault, M. -L.; Ducruet, T.; Ledjiar, O.; Noel, M.; St-Arneault, K.; Cotes-Turpin, C.; Hung, N.; Ouimet, P.; Parent, S.; Gardner, J.; Bernstein, M.; May, S. Le
Efficacy of Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Games for Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Bone Pins Removal: Randomised Clinical Trial Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 82, no 2, p. 1791–1802, 2026, ISSN: 03092402 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: Adolescent, analgesia, Anxiety, Bone Nails, Child, Children, clinical trial, comparative study, controlled study, female, human, Humans, intramedullary nailing, male, multicenter study, Pain Management, procedural pain, procedures, randomized controlled trial, Therapy, video game, Video Games, virtual reality
@article{guingoEfficacyVirtualReality2026,
title = {Efficacy of Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Games for Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Bone Pins Removal: Randomised Clinical Trial},
author = {E. Guingo and M. H. Debeurme and R. P. Santos and S. Addab and P. Rainville and S. Bouchard and K. Chougui and A. Tsimicalis and M. -L. Nault and T. Ducruet and O. Ledjiar and M. Noel and K. St-Arneault and C. Cotes-Turpin and N. Hung and P. Ouimet and S. Parent and J. Gardner and M. Bernstein and S. Le May},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004216228?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1111/jan.16991},
issn = {03092402 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Nursing},
volume = {82},
number = {2},
pages = {1791–1802},
publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Inc},
abstract = {Aims: To verify the efficacy of virtual reality compared to tablet games for pain and anxiety management in children undergoing percutaneous bone pin and/or suture removal procedures. Design: Randomised clinical trial using two parallel groups: (1) virtual reality or (2) tablet game. Methods: Three-center, randomised pragmatic clinical trial, using a parallel design with two groups (experimental group: immersive virtual reality; active comparator: tablet games). Children aged 6–17 requiring percutaneous pins and/or sutures were recruited between 2020 and 2022 from three outpatient orthopaedic clinics in paediatric hospitals. Pain was measured with the Numerical Rating Scale and anxiety with the Child Fear Scale before and immediately after the procedure. Results: A total of 188 participants were assigned to either the virtual reality group (96 participants) or the tablet group (92 participants). At the first assessment, there was no noticeable difference between the two groups in terms of pain or anxiety levels. However, further analysis revealed that participants aged 13 and older in the virtual reality group experienced significantly lower anxiety. Conclusion: Virtual reality was not more efficacious than games on a tablet for pain and anxiety of children undergoing removal of bone pins or sutures. However, virtual reality demonstrated a benefit in reducing anxiety for teenagers, particularly those aged 13-older. Implication for the Professional and/or Patient Care: Virtual reality games provide an immersive, non-pharmacological alternative of for anxiety management of teenagers during pins and/or sutures removal. Impact: This study showed that a virtual reality game may help reduce anxiety during pins and/or sutures removal procedures in patients aged 13 years and older. Reporting Method: We adhered to the CONSORT checklist for reporting results. Patient or Public Contribution: A patient partner reviewed the study design, methods and final manuscript. Trial Registration: NCT03680625. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.},
keywords = {Adolescent, analgesia, Anxiety, Bone Nails, Child, Children, clinical trial, comparative study, controlled study, female, human, Humans, intramedullary nailing, male, multicenter study, Pain Management, procedural pain, procedures, randomized controlled trial, Therapy, video game, Video Games, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Aims: To verify the efficacy of virtual reality compared to tablet games for pain and anxiety management in children undergoing percutaneous bone pin and/or suture removal procedures. Design: Randomised clinical trial using two parallel groups: (1) virtual reality or (2) tablet game. Methods: Three-center, randomised pragmatic clinical trial, using a parallel design with two groups (experimental group: immersive virtual reality; active comparator: tablet games). Children aged 6–17 requiring percutaneous pins and/or sutures were recruited between 2020 and 2022 from three outpatient orthopaedic clinics in paediatric hospitals. Pain was measured with the Numerical Rating Scale and anxiety with the Child Fear Scale before and immediately after the procedure. Results: A total of 188 participants were assigned to either the virtual reality group (96 participants) or the tablet group (92 participants). At the first assessment, there was no noticeable difference between the two groups in terms of pain or anxiety levels. However, further analysis revealed that participants aged 13 and older in the virtual reality group experienced significantly lower anxiety. Conclusion: Virtual reality was not more efficacious than games on a tablet for pain and anxiety of children undergoing removal of bone pins or sutures. However, virtual reality demonstrated a benefit in reducing anxiety for teenagers, particularly those aged 13-older. Implication for the Professional and/or Patient Care: Virtual reality games provide an immersive, non-pharmacological alternative of for anxiety management of teenagers during pins and/or sutures removal. Impact: This study showed that a virtual reality game may help reduce anxiety during pins and/or sutures removal procedures in patients aged 13 years and older. Reporting Method: We adhered to the CONSORT checklist for reporting results. Patient or Public Contribution: A patient partner reviewed the study design, methods and final manuscript. Trial Registration: NCT03680625. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
6.
Corno, G.; Monthuy-Blanc, J.; Bouchard, S.
Applications of Virtual Reality in the Assessment and Treatment of Eating Disorders Article de journal
Dans: From Eating Disorders to Dysfunctional Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Continuum: The Core of Body Perceptions, p. 30–43, 2026, ISSN: 978-104050847-3 (ISBN); 978-103268497-0 (ISBN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: body image, Condition, Eating disorders, Health research, Image disturbances, Life threatening conditions, Mental health, Psychological treatments, virtual reality
@article{cornoApplicationsVirtualReality2026,
title = {Applications of Virtual Reality in the Assessment and Treatment of Eating Disorders},
author = {G. Corno and J. Monthuy-Blanc and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105045449016?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1201/9781032718125-4},
issn = {978-104050847-3 (ISBN); 978-103268497-0 (ISBN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {From Eating Disorders to Dysfunctional Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Continuum: The Core of Body Perceptions},
pages = {30–43},
publisher = {CRC Press},
abstract = {Severe dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors, as eating disorders are complex and life-threatening conditions. Despite the existence of various treatment approaches, psychological treatments for eating disorders continue to encounter certain limitations, with only 50% of these therapies resulting in complete recovery. Over the past three decades, virtual reality has emerged as a valid tool for the treatment and assessment of these conditions. This chapter will discuss the main advantages of implementing virtual reality in mental health research, with a particular focus on eating disorders. Specifically, the chapter provides a review of the recent use of virtual reality as an intervention tool targeting specific features of eating disorders, such as fear of food, fear of gaining weight, urge to be physically active, and body image disturbances. Moreover, this chapter demonstrates the potential of VR to facilitate a more profound comprehension and evaluation of body image disturbances, including body dissatisfaction and body distortion. © 2027 Johana Monthuy-Blanc and Giulia Corno.},
keywords = {body image, Condition, Eating disorders, Health research, Image disturbances, Life threatening conditions, Mental health, Psychological treatments, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Severe dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors, as eating disorders are complex and life-threatening conditions. Despite the existence of various treatment approaches, psychological treatments for eating disorders continue to encounter certain limitations, with only 50% of these therapies resulting in complete recovery. Over the past three decades, virtual reality has emerged as a valid tool for the treatment and assessment of these conditions. This chapter will discuss the main advantages of implementing virtual reality in mental health research, with a particular focus on eating disorders. Specifically, the chapter provides a review of the recent use of virtual reality as an intervention tool targeting specific features of eating disorders, such as fear of food, fear of gaining weight, urge to be physically active, and body image disturbances. Moreover, this chapter demonstrates the potential of VR to facilitate a more profound comprehension and evaluation of body image disturbances, including body dissatisfaction and body distortion. © 2027 Johana Monthuy-Blanc and Giulia Corno.
7.
António, H.; Albuquerque, S.; de Castro, M. Vieira; Bouchard, S.; Gamito, P.; Pinto, R. J.
Latent Classes of Proximal Traumatic Exposure Among Portuguese Police and Security Professionals: Associations with PTSD Symptoms and Psychological Distress Article de journal
Dans: Psychiatry International, vol. 7, no 4, 2026, ISSN: 26735318 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, Anxiety, article, cross-sectional study, decision making, Depression, DSM-5, female, Global Severity Index, hostility, human, human experiment, Latent Class Analysis, LEC-5, major clinical study, male, paranoia, phobia, police, Positive symptom distress index, Positive symptom total, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder checklist, Proximal Traumatic Exposure, psychological distress, psychosis, PTSD, questionnaire, receiver operating characteristic, Security, security professionals, self report, sociodemographics, trauma exposure
@article{antonioLatentClassesProximal2026,
title = {Latent Classes of Proximal Traumatic Exposure Among Portuguese Police and Security Professionals: Associations with PTSD Symptoms and Psychological Distress},
author = {H. António and S. Albuquerque and M. Vieira de Castro and S. Bouchard and P. Gamito and R. J. Pinto},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105048524559?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.3390/psychiatryint7040173},
issn = {26735318 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Psychiatry International},
volume = {7},
number = {4},
publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},
abstract = {Background: Police and security professionals are routinely exposed to potentially traumatic events as part of occupational duties, placing them at increased risk for post-traumatic stress and broader psychological difficulties. This study aimed to identify latent classes of proximal traumatic exposure among Portuguese police/security professionals and examine their associations with PTSD symptoms and general psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Portuguese police/security professionals (N = 644). Latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to 17 indicators of potentially traumatic events coded as directly experienced or witnessed, derived from the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and general psychological distress was assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses examined whether counts of proximal traumatic events could approximate the LCA-derived classes. Results: A three-class solution was identified, comprising low proximal exposure (37.3%), moderate proximal exposure (40.7%), and high proximal/cumulative exposure (22.0%) classes. The classes reflected a graded cumulative pattern of exposure across traumatic event categories, rather than clearly distinct qualitative configurations defined by specific event types. Higher exposure classes were associated with progressively higher PTSD symptoms and psychological distress, and these associations remained significant after adjustment for sociodemographic and occupational variables. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed that a simple count of proximal traumatic event categories closely approximated the empirically derived class structure within the present sample. However, the resulting thresholds are sample-specific, exploratory, and should not be interpreted as validated screening cutoffs. Conclusions: Proximal traumatic exposure among police/security professionals appears to follow a graded cumulative structure associated with increased PTSD symptoms and psychological distress. The person-centered analysis provided an empirical test of whether exposure was organized according to qualitatively distinct event configurations or primarily along a cumulative gradient. In this sample, cumulative exposure burden emerged as the dominant organizing dimension. The count-based approximation requires external validation before any screening or decision-making application can be considered. © 2026 by the authors.},
keywords = {adult, Anxiety, article, cross-sectional study, decision making, Depression, DSM-5, female, Global Severity Index, hostility, human, human experiment, Latent Class Analysis, LEC-5, major clinical study, male, paranoia, phobia, police, Positive symptom distress index, Positive symptom total, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder checklist, Proximal Traumatic Exposure, psychological distress, psychosis, PTSD, questionnaire, receiver operating characteristic, Security, security professionals, self report, sociodemographics, trauma exposure},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Police and security professionals are routinely exposed to potentially traumatic events as part of occupational duties, placing them at increased risk for post-traumatic stress and broader psychological difficulties. This study aimed to identify latent classes of proximal traumatic exposure among Portuguese police/security professionals and examine their associations with PTSD symptoms and general psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Portuguese police/security professionals (N = 644). Latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to 17 indicators of potentially traumatic events coded as directly experienced or witnessed, derived from the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and general psychological distress was assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses examined whether counts of proximal traumatic events could approximate the LCA-derived classes. Results: A three-class solution was identified, comprising low proximal exposure (37.3%), moderate proximal exposure (40.7%), and high proximal/cumulative exposure (22.0%) classes. The classes reflected a graded cumulative pattern of exposure across traumatic event categories, rather than clearly distinct qualitative configurations defined by specific event types. Higher exposure classes were associated with progressively higher PTSD symptoms and psychological distress, and these associations remained significant after adjustment for sociodemographic and occupational variables. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed that a simple count of proximal traumatic event categories closely approximated the empirically derived class structure within the present sample. However, the resulting thresholds are sample-specific, exploratory, and should not be interpreted as validated screening cutoffs. Conclusions: Proximal traumatic exposure among police/security professionals appears to follow a graded cumulative structure associated with increased PTSD symptoms and psychological distress. The person-centered analysis provided an empirical test of whether exposure was organized according to qualitatively distinct event configurations or primarily along a cumulative gradient. In this sample, cumulative exposure burden emerged as the dominant organizing dimension. The count-based approximation requires external validation before any screening or decision-making application can be considered. © 2026 by the authors.
8.
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 Article de journal
Dans: Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 201, 2026, ISSN: 00057967 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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
9.
Rigas, C.; Lavin, P.; Su, C. -L.; Hassan, M.; Cinalioglu, K.; Vacaflor, B.; Dikaios, E.; Goodman, A.; Ibrahim, M.; Gruber, J.; Se, J.; Sasi, N.; Nazar, R.; Bodenstein, K.; Elbaz, S.; Fajzel, H.; Berkani, S.; Hanganu, C.; Noble, H.; Looper, K.; Bouchard, S.; Seitz, D.; Kumar, S.; Beauchet, O.; Launay, C.; McDonald, E.; Khoury, B.; Ryder, A.; Battistini, B.; Fallavollita, P.; Vahia, I.; Sekhon, H.; Bukhari, S.; Rej, S.
Dans: BMC Psychiatry, vol. 26, no 1, 2026, ISSN: 1471244X (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 80 and over, adult, aged, Anxiety, article, clinical outcome, clinician, cohort analysis, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, demographics, Depression, female, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Geriatric mental health, health hazard, health program, human, human experiment, Humans, informed consent, male, Mental health, Mental Health Teletherapy, mental stress, older adults, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Stress Scale, physiological stress, prediction, Predictors of treatment response, Prospective Studies, prospective study, Psychological, psychology, SARS-CoV-2, secondary analysis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Social isolation, social worker, Stress, telehealth, Telemedicine, teletherapy, Therapy, treatment response, very elderly, Volunteer-based intervention
@article{rigasOptimizingFutureTelehealth2026,
title = {Optimizing future Telehealth mental health programs: a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study to identify key predictors of intervention response in the Telehealth intervention program for older adults (TIP-OA)},
author = {C. Rigas and P. Lavin and C. -L. Su and M. Hassan and K. Cinalioglu and B. Vacaflor and E. Dikaios and A. Goodman and M. Ibrahim and J. Gruber and J. Se and N. Sasi and R. Nazar and K. Bodenstein and S. Elbaz and H. Fajzel and S. Berkani and C. Hanganu and H. Noble and K. Looper and S. Bouchard and D. Seitz and S. Kumar and O. Beauchet and C. Launay and E. McDonald and B. Khoury and A. Ryder and B. Battistini and P. Fallavollita and I. Vahia and H. Sekhon and S. Bukhari and S. Rej},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038539121?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1186/s12888-025-07688-1},
issn = {1471244X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {BMC Psychiatry},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
publisher = {BioMed Central Ltd},
abstract = {Background: The Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) was a volunteer-based phone support program for to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteer-based phone programs can be effective in providing mental health support, there is limited data on the predictors of response to such interventions. This study aimed to examine clinical and demographic predictors of response to the TIP-OA intervention among older adults. Methods: This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included 82 TIP-OA users who expressed interest in the program’s research component, met inclusion criteria, and provided informed consent. Participants completed both baseline and 8-week assessments or had 4-week data carried forward using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. The intervention consisted of weekly supportive phone calls over eight weeks. Baseline mental health risk level was assessed by clinicians during intake and categorized as low, medium, or high based on symptom severity within specific symptom categories. Associations between baseline risk level and changes in stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were examined. The primary outcome was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)). Secondary outcomes were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; scores ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day)), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; scores can range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day)). Results: At 8 -week follow-up assessment, participants with higher baseline risk levels showed greater reductions in stress (mean difference in Perceived Stress Scale reduction by 2.13, (F(1,77) = 2.82},
keywords = {80 and over, adult, aged, Anxiety, article, clinical outcome, clinician, cohort analysis, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, demographics, Depression, female, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Geriatric mental health, health hazard, health program, human, human experiment, Humans, informed consent, male, Mental health, Mental Health Teletherapy, mental stress, older adults, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Stress Scale, physiological stress, prediction, Predictors of treatment response, Prospective Studies, prospective study, Psychological, psychology, SARS-CoV-2, secondary analysis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Social isolation, social worker, Stress, telehealth, Telemedicine, teletherapy, Therapy, treatment response, very elderly, Volunteer-based intervention},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: The Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) was a volunteer-based phone support program for to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteer-based phone programs can be effective in providing mental health support, there is limited data on the predictors of response to such interventions. This study aimed to examine clinical and demographic predictors of response to the TIP-OA intervention among older adults. Methods: This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included 82 TIP-OA users who expressed interest in the program’s research component, met inclusion criteria, and provided informed consent. Participants completed both baseline and 8-week assessments or had 4-week data carried forward using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. The intervention consisted of weekly supportive phone calls over eight weeks. Baseline mental health risk level was assessed by clinicians during intake and categorized as low, medium, or high based on symptom severity within specific symptom categories. Associations between baseline risk level and changes in stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were examined. The primary outcome was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)). Secondary outcomes were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; scores ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day)), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; scores can range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day)). Results: At 8 -week follow-up assessment, participants with higher baseline risk levels showed greater reductions in stress (mean difference in Perceived Stress Scale reduction by 2.13, (F(1,77) = 2.82
10.
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 Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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.