Skin resistance showed significant differences between nonphobics and phobics (p < 0.01), and physiological responses of phobics trended toward nonphobics during virtual reality treatment.
Observational (n=58)
Does virtual reality therapy alter physiological responses (heart rate, skin resistance, skin temperature) in patients with fear of flying?
Physiological monitoring, particularly skin resistance, is a useful objective tool for evaluating the physiological state and treatment progress of individuals undergoing virtual reality psychotherapy for phobias.
p-value: p=< 0.01
The goals of this study were twofold: (1) to investigate nonphobics' and phobics' physiological response in virtual environments, and (2) to analyze the trend of phobics' physiology during virtual reality (VR) treatment. As a measure of physiology, heart rate, skin resistance, and skin temperature were acquired. The data for two groups of participants were analyzed: 22 nonphobic participants (mean = 32 +/- 9.4 years) and 36 subjects with fear of flying (mean = 40 +/- 12.1 years) who met the DSM-IV criteria for fear of flying. As a result, skin resistance showed significant differences between nonphobics and phobics, T(56) = 2.978 and p < 0.01, respectively. The physiological response of 33 phobic participants, who were able to fly without medicine after VR treatment, showed a gradual trend toward the nonphobics' physiological responses as therapy sessions progressed. In this study, physiological monitoring, in particular skin resistance, appeared to be useful both in understanding the physiological state of phobic individuals and in evaluating the results of treatment in VR psychotherapy.
Wiederhold et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Fear of flying (n=58). Virtual reality (VR) treatment vs. Nonphobic participants was evaluated on Physiological response (heart rate, skin resistance, and skin temperature) in virtual environments (p=< 0.01). Skin resistance showed significant differences between nonphobics and phobics (p < 0.01), and physiological responses of phobics trended toward nonphobics during virtual reality treatment.