Emotion regulation for social phobia treatment using virtual reality

Abstract

Social phobia, described as irrational anxiety elicited by exposure to certain types of social or performance situations, also leading to avoidance behaviour. Exposure therapy is applied to attenuate the anxiety by subjecting a patient to anxiety-producing stimuli in real life situations or by evoking the stimulus in the patient’s imagination. The techniques of VR are making it possible to treat patients in the therapist-office, in stead of in real situations in the outside world. Stimuli in a virtual environment can be manipulated, which isnt possible in the real world. The idea that is suggested in this document is to automate the progress of the therapy sessions exposure using virtual reality. This operation gives more time to the therapist, and allows him to take care of other interventions in a better way. We cannot ignore or minimize the role of the therapist, as his presence is still indispensable for a good progress of the sessions.