Virtual reality exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders, including phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, are common and disabling disorders that often involve avoidance behavior. Cognitive-behavioral treatments, specifically imaginal and in vivo forms of exposure therapy, have been accepted and successful forms of treatment for these disorders. Virtual reality exposure therapy, an alternative to more traditional exposure-based therapies, involves immersion in a computer-generated virtual environment that minimizes avoidance and facilitates emotional processing. In this article, we review evidence on the application of virtual reality exposure therapy to the treatment of specific phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder and discuss its advantages and cautions.
Emory University School of Medicine, 1256 Briarcliff Road, Building A, 3rd Floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. mgerar2@emory.edu
Maryrose
M
Gerardi
Judith
J
Cukor
Joann
J
Difede
Albert
A
Rizzo
Barbara Olasov
BO
Rothbaum
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface