Users’ Opinion About a Virtual Reality System as an Adjunct to Psychological Treatment for Stress-Related Disorders: A Quantitative and Qualitative Mixed-Methods Study
comunitat-uji-handle:10234/9
comunitat-uji-handle2:10234/8033
comunitat-uji-handle3:10234/8636
comunitat-uji-handle4:
INVESTIGACIONMetadata
Title
Users’ Opinion About a Virtual Reality System as an Adjunct to Psychological Treatment for Stress-Related Disorders: A Quantitative and Qualitative Mixed-Methods StudyDate
2018-06Publisher
Frontiers MediaBibliographic citation
GUILLÉN BOTELLA, Verónica; BAÑOS RIVERA, Rosa María; BOTELLA, Cristina (2018). Users’ Opinion About a Virtual Reality System as an Adjunct to Psychological Treatment for Stress-Related Disorders: A Quantitative and Qualitative Mixed-Methods Study. Frontiers in Psychology, v. 9Type
info:eu-repo/semantics/articlePublisher version
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01038/fullVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionSubject
Abstract
This study aims to explore patients’ and therapists’ attitudes about the psychological
treatment they received (patients) or applied (therapists). The treatments were standard
CBT protocols for post-traumatic ... [+]
This study aims to explore patients’ and therapists’ attitudes about the psychological
treatment they received (patients) or applied (therapists). The treatments were standard
CBT protocols for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complicated grief (CG), or
adjustment disorders (ADs), depending on each patient diagnosis. The treatments were
delivered following a traditional format or supported by a virtual reality (VR) system
“EMMA’s WORLD” designed for the treatment of stress-related disorders. “EMMA’s
WORLD” is a VR application in which patients can explore negative experiences using
different virtual elements that can be customized to make them more meaningful to the
user. The sample was composed of two groups: the “professionals” (
N
= 10) were
all clinical psychologists who applied the same psychological treatment in both the
traditional format (“traditional condition”) and using the VR system (“
EMMA”
condition).
The second group consisted of a sample of patients (
N
= 50) who met the criteria
for at least one of three different diagnoses: PTSD (
N
= 15), CG (
N
= 15), or AD
(
N
= 20). 25 patients received treatment in the traditional format and 25 supported
by the VR system. The patients were asked about their expectations (before treatment)
and satisfaction (after treatment) with the treatment they received. All the therapists were
asked their opinions about both treatment conditions. A mixed-methods approach using
quantitative and qualitative methodologies was used. In both conditions, high scores
were observed, and the patient’s opinions were even better when they have already
received the treatments. A more pronounced pre-test–post-test change in the EMMA
therapy group than in the traditional group was observed.
EMMA’s World
was well-
accepted by both patients and therapists, and it helped to foster motivation in patients,
while helping the therapist to apply the treatment. Thus, VR can be useful as an adjunct
tool to enhance the treatment [-]
Is part of
Frontiers in Psychology (2018), v. 9Investigation project
1) Ministerio Economía y Competitividad, Spain (PSI2014-54172-R), “CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, an initiative of ISCIII”; 2) Excellence Research Program PROMETEO (Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Educación, PROMETEOII/2013/003)Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
This item appears in the folowing collection(s)
- PSB_Articles [1294]
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