A Comparative Study Between Different Treatments for Spider Phobia

Abstract

The use of augmented reality (AR) environments to treat small animals phobia is an alternative that allows supporting therapy through the virtual, gradual and controlled exposure of the patient to the animal to which s/he is afraid. In this paper we compare four different treatments used in exposure therapy for spider phobia with thirty users, namely, a mobile haptic augmented reality system, an immersive and non-immersive augmented reality environment, and in-vivo direct interaction with a real spider. To compare these four conditions, all participants received a one-session treatment with all of them. The Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) was applied at the beginning and end of the study to determine the impact of the treatments on participant´s arachnophobia, whereas the perception of usefulness and experience of use of each of the treatments were evaluated with a TAM-like on-exit questionnaire. The results showed that there is no significant difference with respect to the perception of usefulness among the three applications, while the haptic augmented reality system generated the least discomforting experience of use and helped to improve the performance of participants.