Main description:

The interactive computer-generated world of virtual reality has been successful in treat ing phobias and other anxiety-related conditions, in part because of its distinct advan tages over traditional in vivo exposure. Yet many clinicians still think of VR technology as it was in the 1990s-bulky, costly, technically difficult-with little knowledge of its evolution toward more modern, evidence-based, practice-friendly treatment.

These updates, and their clinical usefulness, are the subject of Advances in Virtual Re ality and Anxiety Disorders, a timely guidebook geared toward integrating up-to-date VR methods into everyday practice. Introductory material covers key virtual reality concepts, provides a brief history of VR as used in therapy for anxiety disorders, ad dresses the concept of presence, and explains the side effects, known as cybersickness, that affect a small percentage of clients. Chapters in the book's main section detail current techniques and review study findings for using VR in the treatment of:

* Claustrophobia.

* Panic disorder, agoraphobia, and driving phobia.

* Acrophobia and aviophobia.

* Arachnophobia.

* Social phobia.

* Generalized anxiety disorder and OCD.

* PTSD.

* Plus clinical guidelines for establishing a VR clinic.

An in-depth framework for effective (and cost-effective) therapeutic innovations for entrenched problems, Advances in Virtual Reality and Anxiety Disorders will find an engaged audience among psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health counselors.eractive

Contents:

Part I: Introduction.- Presence.- Sickness in Virtual Reality.- Part II: Fear of Flying (Aviophobia): Efficacy and methodological lessons from outcome trials.- Arachnophobia and Fear of Other Insects: Efficacy and lessons learned from treatment process.- Fear of Heights (Acrophobia): Efficacy and lessons learned from psychophysiological data.- Claustrophobia: Efficacy and treatment protocals.- Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia and Driving Phobia: Lessons learned from efficacy studies.- Social Anxiety Disorder: Efficacy and virtual humans.- Virtual Reality for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.- Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Efficacy and the Development of Virtual Environments.- Part III: A Case Example of a Virtual Reality Clinic.- Conclusions: The present and future of Virtual Reality in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders.