@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}

}