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Project

My better self: the use of virtual reality exposure in socially anxious adolescents

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, and its effects generalize to the real world. The majority of anxiety disorders develops during adolescence and VRET has a high potential in this group because of its playful elements and accessible nature. However, research on VRET in young adolescents is scarce. Especially in the group with the lowest age of onset, socially anxious adolescents, VR could be an important tool to contribute to improvements in treatment at this vulnerable age. Besides the scarcity in research on VRET in adolescents, it has been assumed that the effects of VRET are driven by the same underlying cognitive and emotional mechanisms as exposure in vivo. However, this can be questioned given the prevailing theoretical model on exposure therapy. Until now, research that systematically examines the mechanisms of VRET is lacking. Given that in VRET participants are only virtually confronted with their fears, thus exposure is not real, some anxious expectancies cannot be disconfirmed, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in VRET. Therefore, the aim of the present research proposal is to investigate (1) the effectiveness of VRET in socially anxious adolescents, as well as (2) the mechanisms involved in VRET. Building on the dominant models of exposure therapy, we will focus on the following mechanisms: expectancy violation, emotional processing and an initial increase in self-efficacy as a potential mediator. It will be investigated whether these mechanisms contribute in a similar way to the effects of VRET and exposure in vivo.

Date:1 Jan 2022 →  Today
Keywords:virtual reality exposure therapy, working mechanisms, social anxiety disorder, adolescents, inhibitory learning theory
Disciplines:Psychopathology, Clinical and counselling psychology not elsewhere classified, Learning and behaviour
Project type:PhD project