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Cited by 144Virtual Reality Applications and ImpactsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesDigital Mental Health Interventions

Interfaces that heal: coupling real and virtual objects to treat spider phobia

Hoffman, Hunter G., Garcia-Palacios, Azucena, Carlin, Albert, Furness III, Thomas A., Botella-Arbona, Cristina·2003·International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
DOI 10.1207/s15327590ijhc1602_08
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Abstract

Tactile augmentation is a simple, safe, inexpensive interaction technique for adding physical texture and force feedback cues to virtual objects. This study explored whether virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy reduces fear of spiders and whether giving patients the illusion of physically touching the virtual spider increases treatment effectiveness. Eight clinically phobic students were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups-(a) no treatment, (b) VR with no tactile cues, or (c) VR with a physically "touchable" virtual spider-as were 28 nonclinically phobic students. Participants in the 2 VR treatment groups received three 1-hr exposure therapy sessions resulting in clinically significant drops in behavioral avoidance and subjective fear ratings. The tactile augmentation group showed the greatest progress on behavioral measures. On average, participants in this group, who only approached to 5.5 ft of a live spider on the pretreatment Behavioral Avoidance Test (Garcia-Palacios, 2002), were able to approach to 6 in. of the spider after VR exposure treatment and did so with much less anxiety (see www.vrpain.com for details). Practical implications are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1207/s15327590ijhc1602_08

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55 of 55 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The data from this study coincide with findings from studies where VR was used to treat specific phobia (animal subtype), where VR was effective in reducing fear and avoidance.

    “Similarly, data from the present study also coincide with findings from studies where VR was used to treat SP (animal subtype), such as those by [31, 33–35,75,76]; where VR was effective in reducing the fear and avoidance experienced by the participants.”

    From In Vivo versus augmented reality exposure in the treatment of small animal phobia: A randomized controlled trial (2016) · cites this paper as [34]

  • Early research suggested that tactile augmentation of VRET increases the sense of presence, perceived realism, and led to better treatment outcomes, but subsequent research has failed to replicate these findings.

    “Although early research suggested that tactile augmentation of VRET increases the sense of presence, perceived realism, and led to better treatment outcomes [49], subsequent research has failed to replicate these findings [50], leaving an open question to be examined in future research.”

    From Experiences of gamified and automated virtual reality exposure therapy for spider phobia: qualitative study (2020) · cites this paper as [49]

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Related

Authors
Hoffman, H. G., Garcia-Palacios, A., Carlin, A., Furness III, T. A., & Botella-Arbona, C.
ORCID
Hoffman, Hunter G.
Venue
International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2003-10
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
283-300
ISSN
  • 1044-7318 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-7590
DOI
10.1207/s15327590ijhc1602_08
OpenAlex
W2155384729
Cited by
144
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
10.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
spider phobia, virtual reality exposure therapy, haptic feedback, virtual objects, behavioral avoidance, phobia treatment

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