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 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.
2.
Bouchard, S.; Forget, H.
Conducting exposure in virtual reality for the treatment of social phobia does lead to change in dysfunctional beliefs Article de journal
Dans: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 23, p. 258–264, 2025, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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.
3.
Scholten, W.; Seldenrijk, A.; Hoogendoorn, A.; Bosman, R.; Muntingh, A.; Karyotaki, E.; Andersson, G.; Berger, T.; Carlbring, P.; Furmark, T.; Bouchard, S.; Goldin, P.; Kampmann, I.; Morina, N.; Kocovski, N.; Leibing, E.; Leichsenring, F.; Stolz, T.; Balkom, A. Van; Batelaan, N.
Dans: JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 80, no 8, p. 822–831, 2023, ISSN: 2168622X (ISSN), (Publisher: American Medical Association).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, avoidant personality disorder, clinical outcome, cognitive behavioral therapy, comorbidity, cycloserine, Depression, disease severity, female, hospital admission, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, meta analysis, paroxetine, phobia, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, procedures, psychotropic agent, randomized controlled trial (topic), Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, semi structured interview, Social, social anxiety, social phobia, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, symptom, systematic review, treatment response, Waiting Lists
@article{scholten_baseline_2023,
title = {Baseline Severity as a Moderator of the Waiting List-Controlled Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Symptom Change in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis},
author = {W. Scholten and A. Seldenrijk and A. Hoogendoorn and R. Bosman and A. Muntingh and E. Karyotaki and G. Andersson and T. Berger and P. Carlbring and T. Furmark and S. Bouchard and P. Goldin and I. Kampmann and N. Morina and N. Kocovski and E. Leibing and F. Leichsenring and T. Stolz and A. Van Balkom and N. Batelaan},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85166386036&doi=10.1001%2fjamapsychiatry.2023.1291&partnerID=40&md5=c279c8b0ff2d3b4558c6f8803cdda0af},
doi = {10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1291},
issn = {2168622X (ISSN)},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {JAMA Psychiatry},
volume = {80},
number = {8},
pages = {822–831},
publisher = {American Medical Association},
abstract = {Importance: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with prognosis, and it is unclear whether symptom severity predicts response to CBT for SAD. Objective: To examine baseline SAD symptom severity as a moderator of the association between CBT and symptom change in patients with SAD. Data Sources: For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA), PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1990, to January 13, 2023. Primary search topics were social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavior therapy, and randomized controlled trial. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing CBT with being on a waiting list and using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of SAD. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Authors of included studies were approached to provide individual-level data. Data were extracted by pairs of authors following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. An IPDMA was conducted using a 2-stage approach for the association of CBT with change in LSAS scores from baseline to posttreatment and for the interaction effect of baseline LSAS score by condition using random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the baseline to posttreatment change in symptom severity measured by the LSAS. Results: A total of 12 studies including 1246 patients with SAD (mean [SD] age, 35.3 [10.9] years; 738 [59.2%] female) were included in the meta-analysis. A waiting list-controlled association between CBT and pretreatment to posttreatment LSAS change was found (b = -20.3; 95% CI, -24.9 to -15.6; P <.001; Cohen d = -0.95; 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.73). Baseline LSAS scores moderated the differences between CBT and waiting list with respect to pretreatment to posttreatment symptom reductions (b = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.06; P =.009), indicating that individuals with severe symptoms had larger waiting list-controlled symptom reductions after CBT (Cohen d = -1.13 [95% CI, -1.39 to -0.88] for patients with very severe SAD; Cohen d = -0.54 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.29] for patients with mild SAD). Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review and IPDMA, higher baseline SAD symptom severity was associated with greater (absolute but not relative) symptom reductions after CBT in patients with SAD. The findings contribute to personalized care by suggesting that clinicians can confidently offer CBT to individuals with severe SAD symptoms.. © 2023 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.},
note = {Publisher: American Medical Association},
keywords = {adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, avoidant personality disorder, clinical outcome, cognitive behavioral therapy, comorbidity, cycloserine, Depression, disease severity, female, hospital admission, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, male, meta analysis, paroxetine, phobia, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, procedures, psychotropic agent, randomized controlled trial (topic), Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, semi structured interview, Social, social anxiety, social phobia, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, symptom, systematic review, treatment response, Waiting Lists},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Importance: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with prognosis, and it is unclear whether symptom severity predicts response to CBT for SAD. Objective: To examine baseline SAD symptom severity as a moderator of the association between CBT and symptom change in patients with SAD. Data Sources: For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA), PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1990, to January 13, 2023. Primary search topics were social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavior therapy, and randomized controlled trial. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing CBT with being on a waiting list and using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of SAD. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Authors of included studies were approached to provide individual-level data. Data were extracted by pairs of authors following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. An IPDMA was conducted using a 2-stage approach for the association of CBT with change in LSAS scores from baseline to posttreatment and for the interaction effect of baseline LSAS score by condition using random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the baseline to posttreatment change in symptom severity measured by the LSAS. Results: A total of 12 studies including 1246 patients with SAD (mean [SD] age, 35.3 [10.9] years; 738 [59.2%] female) were included in the meta-analysis. A waiting list-controlled association between CBT and pretreatment to posttreatment LSAS change was found (b = -20.3; 95% CI, -24.9 to -15.6; P <.001; Cohen d = -0.95; 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.73). Baseline LSAS scores moderated the differences between CBT and waiting list with respect to pretreatment to posttreatment symptom reductions (b = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.06; P =.009), indicating that individuals with severe symptoms had larger waiting list-controlled symptom reductions after CBT (Cohen d = -1.13 [95% CI, -1.39 to -0.88] for patients with very severe SAD; Cohen d = -0.54 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.29] for patients with mild SAD). Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review and IPDMA, higher baseline SAD symptom severity was associated with greater (absolute but not relative) symptom reductions after CBT in patients with SAD. The findings contribute to personalized care by suggesting that clinicians can confidently offer CBT to individuals with severe SAD symptoms.. © 2023 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
4.
Bouchard, S.
Author’s reply: Article de journal
Dans: British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 213, no 4, p. 617, 2018, ISSN: 00071250 (ISSN), (Publisher: Cambridge University Press).
Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: cost effectiveness analysis, gold standard, hospital admission, human, Humans, letter, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, phobia, self report, Social, social phobia, speech, virtual reality
@article{bouchard_authors_2018,
title = {Author’s reply:},
author = {S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054728668&doi=10.1192%2fbjp.2018.192&partnerID=40&md5=11905e8a9bb8578e1df964a26b9930d4},
doi = {10.1192/bjp.2018.192},
issn = {00071250 (ISSN)},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {British Journal of Psychiatry},
volume = {213},
number = {4},
pages = {617},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
note = {Publisher: Cambridge University Press},
keywords = {cost effectiveness analysis, gold standard, hospital admission, human, Humans, letter, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, phobia, self report, Social, social phobia, speech, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
5.
Yuen, E. K.; Herbert, J. D.; Forman, E. M.; Goetter, E. M.; Juarascio, A. S.; Rabin, S.; Goodwin, C.; Bouchard, S.
Acceptance based behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder through videoconferencing Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 27, no 4, p. 389–397, 2013, ISSN: 18737897 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: acceptance based behavior therapy, adult, agoraphobia, alcoholism, article, avoidance behavior, Beck Depression Inventory, behavior therapy, Behavioral Assessment Test, Brief Version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, clinical article, clinical trial, comorbidity, disability, effect size, Feasibility Studies, feasibility study, female, follow up, Follow-Up Studies, generalized anxiety disorder, human, Humans, interview, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, major depression, male, named inventories, panic, patient attitude, Patient Satisfaction, phobia, Phobic Disorders, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, psychologic test, Psychological, psychological rating scale, psychotherapist attitude, quality of life, questionnaires and rating scales, Skype, social anxiety, social phobia, Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, telehealth, Telemedicine, Telemental health, Telepsychology, treatment outcome, videoconferencing
@article{yuen_acceptance_2013,
title = {Acceptance based behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder through videoconferencing},
author = {E. K. Yuen and J. D. Herbert and E. M. Forman and E. M. Goetter and A. S. Juarascio and S. Rabin and C. Goodwin and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84879799248&doi=10.1016%2fj.janxdis.2013.03.002&partnerID=40&md5=a280b967176db691df32f37d15cb52a1},
doi = {10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.03.002},
issn = {18737897 (ISSN)},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Anxiety Disorders},
volume = {27},
number = {4},
pages = {389–397},
abstract = {Most individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) do not receive any type of treatment. Reasons include logistical barriers (e.g., geographic location, travel time), fear of stigmatization, and fear of the social interactions associated with seeking treatment. Videoconferencing technology holds great promise in the widespread delivery of evidence-based treatments to those who would otherwise not receive treatment. This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an acceptance-based behavioral intervention using Skype videoconferencing to treat adults with generalized SAD. Twenty-four participants received 12 sessions of weekly therapy and were assessed at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Participants and therapists rated the intervention as acceptable and feasible. Analyses revealed significant pre-treatment to follow-up improvements in social anxiety, depression, disability, quality of life, and experiential avoidance, with effect sizes comparable to or larger than previously published results of studies delivering in-person CBT for SAD. Implications and future directions are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.},
keywords = {acceptance based behavior therapy, adult, agoraphobia, alcoholism, article, avoidance behavior, Beck Depression Inventory, behavior therapy, Behavioral Assessment Test, Brief Version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, clinical article, clinical trial, comorbidity, disability, effect size, Feasibility Studies, feasibility study, female, follow up, Follow-Up Studies, generalized anxiety disorder, human, Humans, interview, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, major depression, male, named inventories, panic, patient attitude, Patient Satisfaction, phobia, Phobic Disorders, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, psychologic test, Psychological, psychological rating scale, psychotherapist attitude, quality of life, questionnaires and rating scales, Skype, social anxiety, social phobia, Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, telehealth, Telemedicine, Telemental health, Telepsychology, treatment outcome, videoconferencing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Most individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) do not receive any type of treatment. Reasons include logistical barriers (e.g., geographic location, travel time), fear of stigmatization, and fear of the social interactions associated with seeking treatment. Videoconferencing technology holds great promise in the widespread delivery of evidence-based treatments to those who would otherwise not receive treatment. This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an acceptance-based behavioral intervention using Skype videoconferencing to treat adults with generalized SAD. Twenty-four participants received 12 sessions of weekly therapy and were assessed at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Participants and therapists rated the intervention as acceptable and feasible. Analyses revealed significant pre-treatment to follow-up improvements in social anxiety, depression, disability, quality of life, and experiential avoidance, with effect sizes comparable to or larger than previously published results of studies delivering in-person CBT for SAD. Implications and future directions are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.