A Scoping Review On Employing Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure-Based Therapy For Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

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.