Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations

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    Virtual Reality Immersion Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
    (La Trobe University, 2024-11) Alahmari, Khadijah; Skarbez,Richard; Duh, Henry
    Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising therapeutic tool for addressing anxiety disorders. This thesis delves into the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy and its impact on anxiety symptoms. Drawing from extensive systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we evaluate the use of immersive VR techniques in treating various anxiety disorders, such as generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. This analysis encompasses a broad range of studies, involving diverse patient populations. While the results show improvements in anxiety symptoms with VR interventions, it is important to note that the evidence does not conclusively establish VR as a superior replacement for traditional therapies. This dissertation also explores the importance of evidence-based treatment protocols and guidelines for implementing VR Immersion Therapy in healthcare settings, emphasising individualised treatment plans, standardised protocols, thorough patient assessment, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, VR-based interventions hold promise in enhancing quality of life for individuals with anxiety disorders. However, more research is needed to fully understand the efficacy of such interventions and how they fit into the broader landscape of mental health treatment. The insights and recommendations provided here serve as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals seeking to optimise the delivery of VR-based therapies and improve patient outcomes in the realm of mental health.
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    A Scoping Review On Employing Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure-Based Therapy For Anxiety Disorders
    (Bangor University, 2024) Dammak, Faisal; Rogers, Andrew
    Virtual reality (VR) technology has shown promise in the treatment of anxiety disorders by providing a secure and immersive environment for exposure-based interventions. This scoping review explored the scope of evidence on the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) interventions in the treatment of different anxiety disorders, such as specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder. Second, it aimed to explore the methodological limitations and give recommendations for future research accordingly. The review was conducted based on the guide for conducting scoping reviews developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). Both primary and secondary studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Studies with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods can be included. Several databases were used, including the Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, Web of Science, the Bangor University Library, Scopus, MedLine, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. The review yielded 27 studies. Findings showed that the use of VR can be a promising intervention for decreasing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and specific phobias (fear of flying, snakes, spiders, and agoraphobia). The effects of virtual reality on the symptoms of anxiety disorders were not only maintained in the long term, but they were maintained in the short term. The use of VR was associated with high satisfaction rates, engagement, and acceptability. A wide range of recommendations for future research were given, including the necessity to conduct studies with a qualitative design, a mixed-methods design, a longitudinal design with a long follow-up, and comparative studies. Further, studies should be conducted across different cultures, as this can increase generalizability. Moreover, there is a need for addressing the variability in VR platforms and technology, studying potential confounding variables, mediators, and moderators, requiring consistent outcome measures, and addressing the heterogeneity in study designs.
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