Acceptability of virtual reality interoceptive exposure for the treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia
Abstract
Interoceptive exposure (IE) is a standard component of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for panic disorder and agoraphobia. The virtual reality (VR) program ‘Panic-Agoraphobia’ has several virtual scenarios designed for applying exposure to agoraphobic situations; it can also simulate physical sensations. This work examines patients' acceptability of the IE component as applied in two different ways: using VR versus traditional IE. Additionally, it explores the relationship between users' treatment expectations and satisfaction and clinically significant change. Results showed that VR and traditional IE were well accepted by all participants. Furthermore, treatment expectations predicted efficacy.
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Studies using ICT tools such as VR or internet-based treatment to deliver psychological treatments, and specifically in vivo exposure, in mental disorders and PD/A report high satisfaction with the exposure component when mediated by technologies.
“Several studies have focused on expectations and satisfaction using different ICT tools, such as VR or internet-based treatment to deliver psychological treatments, and specifically IVE, in mental disorders and PD/A (Botella et al., 2007; Quero et al., 2014), reporting high satisfaction with the exposure component when mediated by technologies.”
From Enhancing In Vivo Exposure in the Treatment of Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Using Location-Based Technologies: A Case Study (2020) · cites this paper as Quero et al., 2014
Virtual Reality exposure is well accepted for the treatment of specific phobias, including in children.
“VR is also well accepted [24,36,37], even in children [38].”
From In Vivo versus augmented reality exposure in the treatment of small animal phobia: A randomized controlled trial (2016) · cites this paper as [36]
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Virtual reality therapy in mental health
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“VR is also well accepted [24,36,37], even in children [38].”
BackgroundSelf-citationMira, A., Bretón-López, J., García-Palacios, A., Quero, S., Baños, R. M., & Botella, C. (2017) · Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · doi:10.2147/ndt.s130994 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
“56,57 research design This is a RCT with three experimental conditions.”
Self-citationCampos, D., Mira, A., Bretón-López, J., Castilla, D., Botella, C., Baños, R. M., & Quero, S. (2018) · Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · doi:10.2147/ndt.s153041 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
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Self-citationVirtual Reality and Other Realities
Botella, C., Baños, R. M., García-Palacios, A., & Quero, S. (2017) · The Science of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-803457-6.00022-2 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
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“This adaptation has been used in previous studies [64, 65].”
ResultSelf-citationMiralles, I., Granell, C., García-Palacios, A., Castilla, D., González-Pérez, A., Casteleyn, S., & Bretón-López, J. (2020) · Clinical Case Studies · doi:10.1177/1534650119892900 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Despite these limitations, we believe that this work contributes to the improvement of IVE for PD/A through innovative ICT tools such as LBT.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationBadeja, D., Schier, F., McGinity, M., & Hoyer, J. (2026) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2025.2534978 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Also, research suggests that initially hesitant patients might be more willing to engage in virtual rather than in vivo exposure, indicative of reduced motivational barriers to treatment (Garcia-Palacios et al., 2007; Quero et al., 2014; Scheveneels et al., 2023).”
- Authors
- Quero, S., Pérez-Ara, M. Á., Bretón-López, J., García-Palacios, A., Baños, R. M., & Botella, C.
- Affiliations
- Universitat Jaume I (ES)
- Universitat de València (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Quero, Soledad
- Venue
- British Journal of Guidance & Counselling
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-11-13
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 123-137
- ISSN
- 0306-9885 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-3534
- OpenAlex
- W2051990536
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- virtual reality exposure therapy, interoceptive exposure, panic disorder, agoraphobia, treatment acceptability, treatment expectations, patient satisfaction, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment efficacy
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