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Cited by 327Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesVirtual Reality Applications and ImpactsDigital Mental Health Interventions

Virtual reality therapy versus cognitive behavior therapy for social phobia: a preliminary controlled study

Klinger, E., Bouchard, S., Légeron, P., Roy, S., Lauer, F., Chemin, I., Nugues, P.·2005·CyberPsychology & Behavior
DOI 10.1089/cpb.2005.8.76
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Abstract

Social phobia is one of the most frequent mental disorders and is accessible to two forms of scientifically validated treatments: anti-depressant drugs and cognitive behavior therapies (CBT). In this last case, graded exposure to feared social situations is one of the fundamental therapeutic ingredients. Virtual reality technologies are an interesting alternative to the standard exposure in social phobia, especially since studies have shown its usefulness for the fear of public speaking. This paper reports a preliminary study in which a virtual reality therapy (VRT), based on exposure to virtual environments, was used to treat social phobia. The sample consisted of 36 participants diagnosed with social phobia assigned to either VRT or a group-CBT (control condition). The virtual environments used in the treatment recreate four situations dealing with social anxiety: performance, intimacy, scrutiny, and assertiveness. With the help of the therapist, the patient learns adapted cognitions and behaviors in order to reduce anxiety in the corresponding real situations. Both treatments lasted 12 weeks, and sessions were delivered according to a treatment manual. Results showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in both conditions. The effect-sizes comparing the efficacy of VRT to the control traditional group-CBT revealed that the differences between the two treatments are trivial.

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  • VRET studies have used locations such as cafés, public transport, stores, and hallways.

    “Where the tasks exceeded public speaking situations, cafés (Klinger et al., 2005; Geraets et al., 2019), public transport (Stefaniak et al., 2022; Geraets et al., 2019), stores (Bouchard et al., 2017; Klinger et al., 2005; Geraets et al., 2019), or hallways (Bouchard et al., 2017; Klinger et al., 2005) served as locations in VR for conducting the exposures.”

    From Virtual Reality exposure therapy in the treatment of public speaking anxiety and social anxiety disorder (2024) · cites this paper as Klinger et al., 2005

  • In other studies, cognitive behavioral therapy was often provided by a therapist within VR exposure environments or between sessions.

    “In contrast, in other studies (e.g., Anderson et al., 2013; Klinger et al., 2005), cognitive behavioral therapy was often provided by a therapist within VR exposure environments or between sessions.”

    From Virtual reality acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for social and public speaking anxiety: A randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as Klinger et al., 2005

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Authors
Klinger, E., Bouchard, S., Légeron, P., Roy, S., Lauer, F., Chemin, I., & Nugues, P.
Affiliations
  • Groupe de Recherche en Informatique, Image, Automatique et Instrumentation de Caen (GREYC), Caen, France.
  • Université du Québec en Outaouais (CA)
  • Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne (FR)
  • Stimulus, Paris, France.
  • GREYC (FR)
  • Lund University (SE)
ORCID
Venue
CyberPsychology & Behavior
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2005-02
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
76-88
ISSN
  • 1094-9313 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-8364
DOI
10.1089/cpb.2005.8.76
OpenAlex
W2054327162
Cited by
327
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
FWCI
14.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.liebertpub.com/nv/resources-tools/text-and-data-mining-policy/121/ (tdm)
Locations
  • CyberPsychology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
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
social anxiety disorder, virtual reality therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, graded exposure, social anxiety, virtual worlds, treatment efficacy, public speaking anxiety, assertiveness, intimacy, performance anxiety, scrutiny
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Assertiveness, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Phobic Disorders, User-Computer Interface, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internet

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