What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate and compare the therapeutic effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy against in-vivo exposure therapy in adults diagnosed with social anxiety disorder or specific phobias.

March 10, 2025Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive TherapyOpen Access

Examining the comparative effectiveness of virtual reality and in-vivo exposure therapy on social anxiety and specific phobia: A systematic review & meta-analysis

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

DKDamla Kuleli PTPhilip John Tyson NDNyle Davies

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Meta-analysis reveals equivalent symptom reduction between virtual reality and in-vivo exposure in adults with phobias or social anxiety, suggesting digital therapy is a viable alternative.

Key Points

To evaluate and compare the therapeutic effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy against in-vivo exposure therapy in adults diagnosed with social anxiety disorder or specific phobias.
Systematically searched PubMed, PsycNet, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect for randomized controlled trials examining adults diagnosed with social anxiety or specific phobia via DSM-IV, DSM-5, or ICD-10 criteria.
Required eligible trials to compare head-mounted display virtual reality exposure therapy, in-vivo exposure therapy, and an additional control condition using pre- and post-assessment measures.
Conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate and compare effect size estimates on symptom reduction between the two active exposure modalities.
Both virtual reality exposure therapy and in-vivo exposure therapy produced moderate effect sizes in reducing symptoms of social phobia and anxiety.
Virtual reality exposure therapy achieved positive clinical outcomes comparable to in-vivo exposure therapy.
The limited scope of existing literature precluded determining whether virtual reality or in-vivo exposure is the optimal therapeutic intervention.

Cite This Study

Kuleli et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a15804c79ff98d0de4eb8ff https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2025.100524

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

March 10, 2025Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive TherapyOpen Access

Examining the comparative effectiveness of virtual reality and in-vivo exposure therapy on social anxiety and specific phobia: A systematic review & meta-analysis

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

DKDamla Kuleli PTPhilip John Tyson NDNyle Davies

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Meta-analysis reveals equivalent symptom reduction between virtual reality and in-vivo exposure in adults with phobias or social anxiety, suggesting digital therapy is a viable alternative.

Key Points

To evaluate and compare the therapeutic effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy against in-vivo exposure therapy in adults diagnosed with social anxiety disorder or specific phobias.
Systematically searched PubMed, PsycNet, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect for randomized controlled trials examining adults diagnosed with social anxiety or specific phobia via DSM-IV, DSM-5, or ICD-10 criteria.
Required eligible trials to compare head-mounted display virtual reality exposure therapy, in-vivo exposure therapy, and an additional control condition using pre- and post-assessment measures.
Conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate and compare effect size estimates on symptom reduction between the two active exposure modalities.
Both virtual reality exposure therapy and in-vivo exposure therapy produced moderate effect sizes in reducing symptoms of social phobia and anxiety.
Virtual reality exposure therapy achieved positive clinical outcomes comparable to in-vivo exposure therapy.
The limited scope of existing literature precluded determining whether virtual reality or in-vivo exposure is the optimal therapeutic intervention.

Cite This Study

Kuleli et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a15804c79ff98d0de4eb8ff https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2025.100524

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark