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Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: The State of the Art

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Advanced Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Healthcare 6. Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Assessment

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 337))

Abstract

In the past 10 years virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has become a viable alternative for exposure in vivo, the gold standard for the treatment of anxiety disorders. VRET is often regarded as a natural extension of the systematic exposure component of (cognitive) behavior therapy. The objective of this chapter is to discuss the treatment of anxiety disorders with VRET and review research into the outcome of VRET and the presumed (underlying) mechanisms of VRET. We discuss variables, which could play an important role during therapy such as the capability of people to experience the virtual world as real (presence), cognitions, psychophysiology, and the therapeutic alliance. Treatment procedures will be illustrated with case vignettes for different anxiety disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Katharina Meyerbröker & Paul M. G. Emmelkamp

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  1. Katharina Meyerbröker
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  2. Paul M. G. Emmelkamp
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Information Systems, Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, 65804, Springfield, MO, USA

    Sheryl Brahnam

  2. Knowledge-based Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

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Meyerbröker, K., Emmelkamp, P.M.G. (2011). Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: The State of the Art. In: Brahnam, S., Jain, L.C. (eds) Advanced Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Healthcare 6. Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Assessment. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 337. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17824-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17824-5_4

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