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Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of spiders: an open trial and feasibility study of a new treatment for arachnophobia.

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Title: Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of spiders: an open trial and feasibility study of a new treatment for arachnophobia.
Authors: Andersson, Jacob (AUTHOR), Hallin, Joel (AUTHOR), Tingström, Anders (AUTHOR), Knutsson, Jens (AUTHOR)
Source: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. Feb2024, Vol. 78 Issue 2, p128-136. 9p.
Subjects: Arachnophobia, Virtual reality therapy, Repeated measures design, Virtual reality, Exposure therapy, Feasibility studies
Abstract: This analogue pilot study examined the feasibility (i.e. preliminary results, safety, acceptability) of a new single-session treatment for adults with a fear of spiders. It used state-of-the-art consumer available VR-hardware for therapist-assisted exposure (VRET–AP). The VRET-AP is largely adapted from Öst's one-session treatment for arachnophobia (Öst, 1987), with the aim of addressing shortcomings of previous VRET treatments, such as marked differences in procedures compared to available and evidence based in-vivo treatments. Participants (N = 12) were screened for fear of spiders using the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ), Fear Questionnaire (FQ) and the Behavioral Approach Test (BAT), prior to and directly after treatment in a repeated measures quasi-experimental design. In addition, acceptance and completion rates were measured and participants were interviewed about their experience of the treatment. Mean ratings as well as Reliable Change Index (RCI) for individual trajectories were analyzed. The results from the preliminary data indicates potential for improvements with large effect sizes (d = 0.90-1,384) in all measurements of spider fear at post-treatment. Reliable Change Index (RCI) analysis showed that spider fear diminished in all twelve participants although the change was certain in only two. None deteriorated. All that responded accepted the treatment and all 11 participants completed all levels in the treatment. No concerns or adverse effects were reported in the interviews which largely confirm the quantitative results. VRET-AP is a feasible alternative for delivering effective treatment for fear of spiders and the results motivate larger, randomized trials of VRET-AP involving participants diagnosed with arachnophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nordic Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of spiders: an open trial and feasibility study of a new treatment for arachnophobia.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andersson%2C+Jacob%22">Andersson, Jacob</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hallin%2C+Joel%22">Hallin, Joel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tingström%2C+Anders%22">Tingström, Anders</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Knutsson%2C+Jens%22">Knutsson, Jens</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nordic+Journal+of+Psychiatry%22">Nordic Journal of Psychiatry</searchLink>. Feb2024, Vol. 78 Issue 2, p128-136. 9p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arachnophobia%22">Arachnophobia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Virtual+reality+therapy%22">Virtual reality therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Repeated+measures+design%22">Repeated measures design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Virtual+reality%22">Virtual reality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Exposure+therapy%22">Exposure therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feasibility+studies%22">Feasibility studies</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This analogue pilot study examined the feasibility (i.e. preliminary results, safety, acceptability) of a new single-session treatment for adults with a fear of spiders. It used state-of-the-art consumer available VR-hardware for therapist-assisted exposure (VRET–AP). The VRET-AP is largely adapted from Öst's one-session treatment for arachnophobia (Öst, 1987), with the aim of addressing shortcomings of previous VRET treatments, such as marked differences in procedures compared to available and evidence based in-vivo treatments. Participants (N = 12) were screened for fear of spiders using the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ), Fear Questionnaire (FQ) and the Behavioral Approach Test (BAT), prior to and directly after treatment in a repeated measures quasi-experimental design. In addition, acceptance and completion rates were measured and participants were interviewed about their experience of the treatment. Mean ratings as well as Reliable Change Index (RCI) for individual trajectories were analyzed. The results from the preliminary data indicates potential for improvements with large effect sizes (d = 0.90-1,384) in all measurements of spider fear at post-treatment. Reliable Change Index (RCI) analysis showed that spider fear diminished in all twelve participants although the change was certain in only two. None deteriorated. All that responded accepted the treatment and all 11 participants completed all levels in the treatment. No concerns or adverse effects were reported in the interviews which largely confirm the quantitative results. VRET-AP is a feasible alternative for delivering effective treatment for fear of spiders and the results motivate larger, randomized trials of VRET-AP involving participants diagnosed with arachnophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Nordic Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/08039488.2023.2279643
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 128
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      – SubjectFull: Arachnophobia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Virtual reality therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Repeated measures design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Virtual reality
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      – SubjectFull: Exposure therapy
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      – SubjectFull: Feasibility studies
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            NameFull: Andersson, Jacob
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            NameFull: Hallin, Joel
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            NameFull: Tingström, Anders
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            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2024
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
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