TREATING FEAR OF FLYING USING BIOFEEDBACK AND VIRTUAL REALITY

This study examined an experimental behavioral
therapy protocol using virtual reality for fear of
flying (FOF) in comparison to the existing standard
treatment protocol commonly employed of exposure
therapy. Both groups received
Virtual Reality (VR) as the method exposure to the
stimulus and biofeedback on autonomic functioning.
The control group was treated with graded exposure,
where participants were repeatedly exposed to flight
situations via VR, while receiving continuous
biofeedback on physiological sensations. The
experimental group was treated using a systematic
desensitization model where participants were
repeatedly exposed to flight situations via VR, while
engaging in relaxation techniques to counter the
anxiety response, while receiving continuous
biofeedback on physiological sensations.

Autorentext

Dr. Jayme Albin is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist and Coach. Shecompleted her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, with a concentrationin Health Psychology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine andher Masters in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University. She is an expert in anxiety,behavior medicine, biofeedback andvirtual reality therapy.

Klappentext

This study examined an experimental behavioraltherapy protocol using virtual reality for fear offlying (FOF) in comparison to the existing standardtreatment protocol commonly employed of exposuretherapy. Both groups receivedVirtual Reality (VR) as the method exposure to thestimulus and biofeedback on autonomic functioning.The control group was treated with graded exposure,where participants were repeatedly exposed to flightsituations via VR, while receiving continuousbiofeedback on physiological sensations. Theexperimental group was treated using a systematicdesensitization model where participants wererepeatedly exposed to flight situations via VR, whileengaging in relaxation techniques to counter theanxiety response, while receiving continuousbiofeedback on physiological sensations.