Effectiveness of Simplified Virtual Reality Exposure : A Case Study of Thunder Phobia

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Behavior Therapy Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 97 - 106
• Main Authors: SAKANO, Yuji, MIYANO, Hideichi, KAIYA, Hisanobu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies( JABCT ) 30.09.2000; 一般社団法人 日本認知・行動療法学会
• Subjects: presence; simplified virtual reality exposure; thunder phobia; virtual reality exposure; VRエクスポージャー; 簡易型VRエクスポージャー; 臨場感; 雷恐怖
• ISSN: 0910-6529; 2424-2594
• DOI: 10.24468/jjbt.26.2_97

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the simplified virtual reality exposure for treating thunder phobia. The simplified virtual reality exposure system consisted of a head mounted display and body sonic equipment, which are marketed. Compared with the conventional virtual reality exposure, this system is inexpensive and is easy to operate. The subject was a 43-year-old woman who had suffered from thunder phobia for 17 years. As a result of intervention with the simplified virtual reality exposure of 19 sessions, scores of self-evaluation of attitude of and avoidance from thunder were decreased. She became free from thunder phobia, and the improyement observed in the treatment was maintained at 2-month and 7-month follow-up studies. Results showed the effectiveness of the simplified virtual reality exposure for the treatment of thunder phobia. This finding is discussed with respect to the presence in the virtual environment.