title: Virtual reality exposure on nicotine craving.
abstract: Several forms of treatment for nicotine dependence that combine the classical smoking cessation strategies with new Virtual Reality (VR) exposure techniques to smoking-related cues are in development. In this line, the main goal of our study was to develop a virtual platform in order to induce cravings in smokers. Sixty undergraduate students were randomly assigned to two different virtual environments (high-arousal cues and low-arousal cues). Both environments were based on a three-room apartment with commercial music playing and virtual characters interacting in a social event. The assessment was carried out before and after exposure through psychophysiological activation and self-report data for craving and nicotine dependence levels. No statistical differences were observed between smokers and non-smokers in psychophysiological activation. As far as self-report data is concerned, smokers revealed a significant increase in craving after the VR exposure to high arousal environments. Overall results were in line with previous studies suggesting the use of virtual environments as a tool for the existing smoking cessation programs.
authors.affiliation: University Lusófona of Humanities and Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal. pedro.gamito@ulusofona.pt
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gamito
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface