Virtualna realnost u psihoterapiji anksioznih poremećaja

Đonđ Perković, Renata. (2018). Virtualna realnost u psihoterapiji anksioznih poremećaja. Specialist Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology.
(Specijalistički studij kliničke psihologije) [mentor Kolesarić, Vladimir].

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Abstract

In the last two decades, in parallel with the advancement of computer technology, the interest in its use in clinical psychology has increased. Numerous systems of application of virtual reality have been developed in clinical research and psychotherapeutic practice. Virtual reality technology fits well with the cognitivebehavioral psychotherapy model, with emphasis on exposure as a key element of treatment. In exposure therapy in virtual reality, virtual environments are created that are immersive and cause anxiety. These virtual situations are then 'visited' for a certain period of time to enable corrective learning. Most studies focused on anxiety disorders, but other areas of application in the therapy of various pathological conditions were also investigated: feeding disorders, addiction (exposure to virtual triggers), psychological evaluation, pain control, palliative care, rehabilitation and the like. Virtual reality has proven to be useful also in the area of clinical evaluation, understanding of mechanisms of psychological disorders and intervention, and in the field of rehabilitation. Virtual reality enables a higher level of control and a suitable shaping of the therapeutic process in relation to individual client needs, making a valuable contribution to all components of the therapeutic process. Presence, within the level of connectivity the subject feels with the virtual environment, is considered as a key construct for experiencing anxiety, but also for a successful response to exposure in virtual reality. The presence is conceptualized as multidimensional, with three primary factors: inclusion, reality and spatial presence. Clinical research and meta-analysis concluded that the application of virtual reality in the treatment of anxiety disorders leads to a significant reduction of symptoms of anxiety, and there is no significant difference between exposure to real life conditions and exposure to virtual reality. Criticism of the study on the use of virtual reality in the treatment of anxiety disorders is related to the use of small samples, lack of adequate control group and lack of use of randomized controlled design research. The justification for these objections is different depending on the type of disorder, and a differential view of the research literature is required depending on the anxiety disorder being investigated.

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