@article{ernst_virtual_2024,

title = {Virtual Reality–Based Exposure With 360° Environments for Social Anxiety Disorder: Usability and Feasibility Study},

author = {M. Ernst and S. Bouchard and T. Andersen and P. T. Orskov and K. Tarp and M. B. Lichtenstein},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85207452707&doi=10.2196%2f55679&partnerID=40&md5=603ff828b152a1cdbc241ab7601a43e5},

doi = {10.2196/55679},

issn = {2561326X (ISSN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {JMIR Formative Research},

volume = {8},

abstract = {Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is effective, few seek treatment, and many who do start often drop out. This may be due to the component of exposure inherent to cognitive behavioral therapy, where the patient confronts feared stimuli outside the therapist’s office, which they otherwise try to avoid. As an alternative, research has explored the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)–based exposure therapy with promising results. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility of VR tools using mixed methodologies before assessing their efficacy. Objective: This study aims to assess the usability, feasibility, and presence of four 360° virtual environments and whether these were able to evoke anxiety in patients with SAD. Methods: A total of 10 adult participants with SAD and 10 healthy controls were recruited for 1 experimental session (age range 21-32 y; 12/20, 60% male participants). Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analyzed. A mixed methods triangulation design was applied to analyze and compare the data. Results: Participants with SAD experienced increased anxiety when exposed to VR, and environments were considered relevant and useful as an exposure tool. Participants with SAD reported significantly higher average anxiety levels (P=.01) and peak anxiety levels (P=.01) compared with controls during exposure; however, significant differences in anxiety when accounting for baseline anxiety levels were only found in 2 of 4 environments (P=.01},

note = {Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.},

keywords = {360°, Anxiety, Exposure therapy, interactive, Mixed methods, social anxiety disorder, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ernst_biomarkers_2024,

title = {Biomarkers in exposure-based treatment of anxiety in virtual reality: a systematic review},

author = {M. T. Ernst and J. Hyldig Nielsen and E. Runge and S. Bouchard and L. Clemmensen},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85197316386&doi=10.3389%2ffrvir.2024.1355082&partnerID=40&md5=500a06f8e6489e75933d79342b606762},

doi = {10.3389/frvir.2024.1355082},

issn = {26734192 (ISSN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality},

volume = {5},

abstract = {Background: A large proportion of individuals with anxiety-related disorders refrain from seeking treatment. This may be because traditional exposure treatments induce anxiety. However, advances in exposure using virtual reality technology may encourage more individuals to seek treatment. Furthermore, using biomarkers with VR-based exposure may enable clinicians to assess anxiety levels objectively and collect data in a naturalistic setting. Methods: Here, we conduct a systematic review of the literature on the use of biomarkers in VR-based exposure treatment for anxiety. Twenty-seven studies were included, with a total of 1046 participants. Results: We found that heart rate was the only biomarker that tentatively could identify changes within (75% of instances) and between sessions (60% of instances). The levels of synchrony between the findings for overall biomarkers and the results from questionnaires showed inconclusive results. Regarding the levels of synchrony between the findings for particular biomarkers and the results from questionnaires, only skin conductance level was highly synchronous for differences between groups (87% of instances). Conclusion: Based on the present review, biomarkers cannot yet be used reliably to distinguish differences in self-reported symptoms of anxiety in VR-based exposure treatments. Copyright © 2024 Ernst, Hyldig Nielsen, Runge, Bouchard and Clemmensen.},

note = {Publisher: Frontiers Media SA},

keywords = {Anxiety, Biomarkers, Exposure therapy, systematic review, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bergeron_exposure_2022,

title = {Exposure Therapy for Gambling Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis},

author = {P. -Y. Bergeron and I. Giroux and M. Chrétien and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85137474633&doi=10.1007%2fs40429-022-00428-5&partnerID=40&md5=c8e31f1503edd9d0694256be44524371},

doi = {10.1007/s40429-022-00428-5},

issn = {21962952 (ISSN)},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Current Addiction Reports},

volume = {9},

number = {3},

pages = {179–194},

abstract = {Purpose of Review: Cognitive behaviour therapy is the gold standard for the treatment of gambling disorder. Obstacles remain regarding its efficacy, namely relapses and difficulty in implementing cognitive restructuring for some clients. Given these observations, behavioural interventions for gambling disorder, such as exposure therapy, which aims to decrease gambling craving, may be effective as a complementary or alternative intervention to cognitive behaviour therapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore how exposure therapy for gambling disorder has been studied and to evaluate its efficacy. To answer these questions, 3406 studies, retrieved using PsycNet, Medline and Google Scholar, were screened. Recent Findings: After two screenings, 13 papers were selected for the systematic review and five were statistically combined for the meta-analysis. Quantitative results support exposure therapy’s efficacy to decrease gambling craving at post-intervention (g = − 0.955) and at last follow-up (6 or 12 months; − 1.010). Results also show a large decrease in gambling severity as documented by screening instruments (− 1.087) as well as time spent gambling (− 2.136) at post-intervention. Furthermore, a large decrease in gambling measured via screening instruments (− 1.162) and erroneous beliefs (− 1.308) was found at last follow-up. Summary: This is the first meta-analysis on behavioural exposure therapy for gambling disorder. Results support that exposure therapy reduces gambling cravings and severity, as well as time spent gambling and erroneous beliefs. These results are discussed in comparison to other therapeutic approaches and are interpreted according to the high risk of bias in included studies. © 2022, The Author(s).},

note = {Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

keywords = {Cognitive-behaviour therapy, Exposure therapy, Gambling disorder therapy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bouchard_could_2011,

title = {Could virtual reality be effective in treating children with phobias?},

author = {S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79951655992&doi=10.1586%2fern.10.196&partnerID=40&md5=a941040ff9b2edf8439f26b36edc7163},

doi = {10.1586/ern.10.196},

issn = {17448360 (ISSN)},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-01-01},

journal = {Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics},

volume = {11},

number = {2},

pages = {207–213},

abstract = {The use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in adults is gaining popularity and its efficacy is supported by numerous outcome studies. Similar research for children is lagging behind. The outcome studies on the use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in children currently address only specific phobias, and all of the available trials are reviewed in this article. Despite the limited number of studies, results are very encouraging for the treatment of school and spider phobias. A study with adolescents suggests that, at least for social anxiety, exposure stimuli would be more effective if they were developed specifically for younger populations. Virtual reality may not increase children's motivation towards therapy unless their fearful apprehension is addressed before initiating the treatment. © 2011 Expert Reviews Ltd.},

keywords = {Adolescent, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, arachnophobia, article, audiovisual equipment, Child, child psychiatry, Children, cognitive therapy, Cognitive-behavior therapy, Computer Simulation, Computer-Assisted, controlled clinical trial (topic), environmental factor, Exposure therapy, groups by age, human, Humans, image display, motivation, phobia, Phobic Disorders, social phobia, spider, Therapy, treatment outcome, User-Computer Interface, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}