Pathological fear of dogs called4/7/2023 But instead of VR, the app in question doesn't require a headset. In September last year, MindGuide revealed an app called Phobys that employs a similar exposure therapy approach to help users suffering from arachnophobia, which is clinically defined as a pathological or irrational fear of spiders. Moreover, using an app-driven VR system with a self-guided approach ensures that users don't have to fear exposing their phobias if they are feeling conscious about it. Another notable benefit is that the VR-fueled treatment is cost-effective, readily available via the app, and doesn't come with any psycho-social hindrances. Compared to an in-person therapy session with a psychiatrist for exposure treatment, the dropout rate during the VR trials was significantly lower. ![]() While the positive outcome is promising in itself, there are a few other benefits of the strategy, too. One test subject who was afraid of spiders eventually got confident enough to remove an arachnid from their home on their own, while another participant afraid of flying showed a willingness to book an overseas holiday. The core principle behind the treatment was to make the subjects face their fears in a diluted form and then slowly increase it up a few notches to build their tolerance in a clinically-recognized fashion. The team reports that following the VR treatment, participants "showed comparable improvements in the Severity Measures for Specific Phobia scale."Īdditionally, the severity score of phobias went from the moderate-severe (28/40) category to minimal (7/40) risk in a span of six weeks. A total of 129 participants were a part of the study assessing five different kinds of phobias including flying, needles, heights, spiders, and dogs. ![]() As part of their research, the team at the institute's Department of Psychological Medicine relied on a custom self-guided mobile app called "oVRcome" to embark on a journey of treating phobias by combining VR 360‑degree video exposure and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
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