The Effectiveness of Self-Guided Virtual-Reality Exposure Therapy for Public-Speaking Anxiety

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15516629
AutoresPreethi Premkumar (0000-0003-1934-6741, London South Bank University, autor de correspondencia), Nadja Heym (0000-0003-2414-8854, Nottingham Trent University), David J Brown (0000-0002-4015-7382, Nottingham Trent University), Steven Battersby (Nottingham Trent University), Alexander Sumich (0000-0003-4333-8442, Nottingham Trent University), Bethany Huntington (0000-0003-0437-2090, University of Nottingham), Rosie Daly (Nottingham Trent University), Eva Zysk (0000-0002-7715-5874, University of British Columbia)
Año2021
Volumen12
Páginas694610-694610
Fecha de publicación2021-08-19
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
EditorialFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.694610
PMID34489755
OpenAlexW3195394027
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas8
Referencias citadas74

Objectives: Self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a psychological intervention that enables a person to increase their own exposure to perceived threat. Public-speaking anxiety (PSA) is an anxiety-provoking social situation that is characterized by fear of negative evaluation from an audience. This pilot study aimed to determine whether self-guided VRET (1) increases exposure to PSA-specific virtual social threats, and (2) reduces anxiety, arousal, heartrate and PSA over repeated exposure. Methods: Thirty-two University students (27 completers) with high self-reported public-speaking anxiety attended 2 weekly self-guided VRET sessions. Each session involved the participant delivering a 20-min speech in a virtual classroom. Participants were able to increase their exposure to virtual social threat through the audience size, audience reaction, number of speech prompts, and their own salience in the virtual classroom at 4-min intervals. Participants' heartrates and self-reported anxiety and arousal were monitored during these intervals. Participants completed psychometric assessments after each session and 1 month later. Results: Participants increased their exposure to virtual social threat during each VRET session, which coincided with a reduction in heartrate and self-reported anxiety and arousal. Improvement in PSA occurred post-treatment and 1 month later. The in-session improvement in anxiety correlated with reductions in fear of negative evaluation post-treatment and 1 month later. Conclusions: Increased self-exposure to virtual social threat from self-guided VRET relieves anxiety and shows immediate reductions in subjective and physiological arousal during application, but also yields sustained improvement in PSA

Anxiety · Arousal · Exposure therapy · Fear of negative evaluation · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Public speaking · Social anxiety · Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology