Could virtual reality be effective in treating children with phobias?

Abstract

The use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in adults is gaining popularity and its efficacy is supported by numerous outcome studies. Similar research for children is lagging behind. The outcome studies on the use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in children currently address only specific phobias, and all of the available trials are reviewed in this article. Despite the limited number of studies, results are very encouraging for the treatment of school and spider phobias. A study with adolescents suggests that, at least for social anxiety, exposure stimuli would be more effective if they were developed specifically for younger populations. Virtual reality may not increase children’s motivation towards therapy unless their fearful apprehension is addressed before initiating the treatment.

Keywords::

• anxiety
• children
• cognitive–behavior therapy
• exposure therapy
• phobia
• virtual reality

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The preparation of this article was made possible by peer-reviewed research grants from the Canada Research Chairs program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The study was conducted at the Laboratoire de Cyberpsychologie de l’UQO (www.uqo.ca/cyberpsy/), where the author is conducting research and developing virtual reality environments. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.