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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Psychology for Clinical Settings
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1491622
This article is part of the Research Topic Advances in Understanding and Treating Fears and Phobias View all articles

Using iVR to Deliver Optimal Psychotherapy Experience -Current Perspectives on VRET for Acrophobia

Provisionally accepted
Kristína Kvapil Varšová Kristína Kvapil Varšová *Vojtěch Juřík Vojtěch Juřík
  • Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) presents a promising avenue for treating acrophobia through Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET). This paper explores the current state of VRET for acrophobia, identifying significant technological and practical barriers that limit its effectiveness and hinder widespread adoption. Key challenges include the need for more advanced and realistic user experiences, and for the integration of biofeedback mechanisms. Additionally, the role of therapists remains crucial, as therapist-led VRET sessions demonstrate better outcomes compared to automated interventions. The potential of Collaborative Immersive Virtual Environments (CIVEs) to enhance VRET by simulating real-life interactions and improving patient-therapist engagement is also discussed. Future research should focus on developing comprehensive guidelines for CIVE design and evaluating integrated VRET and CIVE systems for treating phobias, including acrophobia. Addressing these issues will enhance the therapeutic experience, making VRET a more effective and accessible tool for treating acrophobia.

    Keywords: IVR, virtual reality, VRET, Exposure, cbt, acrophobia, CIVE

    Received: 05 Sep 2024; Accepted: 25 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Kvapil Varšová and Juřík. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Kristína Kvapil Varšová, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.