1. Are Virtual Reality-Based, Non-Face-to-Face Interventions Effective for Patients with Social Phobia? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Author
-
Mihyun Lee, Seyeon Park, Na An, and Hyun Jeong
- Subjects
PHOBIAS treatment ,MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems ,EFFECT sizes (Statistics) ,RESEARCH funding ,CINAHL database ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,ANXIETY ,TELEPSYCHIATRY ,META-analysis ,EXPOSURE therapy ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,MEDLINE ,MEDICAL databases ,VIRTUAL reality therapy ,ONLINE information services ,SOCIAL anxiety ,MENTAL depression ,PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems ,EVALUATION - Abstract
Purpose: This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect size of anxiety and psychological outcomes of virtual reality interventions in patients with anxiety disorders. Methods: A total of 835 studies were initially identified, of which six were found to be suitable according to the PICO (P: Patients with social phobia, I: VR technology, C: non VR technology, O: Variables related to mental health). criteria. Results: An analysis of the effect size of these studies confirmed that virtual reality interventions were not statistically significantly effective for generalized anxiety disorder (standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.84 to 1.15), but exhibited statistically significant effects for social anxiety (SMD=-0.56, 95% CI=-0.87 to -0.25) disorder and relational anxiety disorder (SMD -0.83, 95% CI=-1.49 to -0.16). Although these interventions were not statistically significantly effective for depression (SMD=-0.40, 95% CI=-0.84 to 0.04), they were effective in reducing negative emotions (SMD=-0.75, 95% CI=-1.20 to -0.31). Conclusion: Virtual reality interventions based on the desensitization effect may be considered a viable option for reducing anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF