Augmented reality exposure treatments in anxiety and related disorders: A systematic review

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Pub Date : 2025-02-06 DOI:10.1016/j.invent.2025.100812

Jorge Grimaldos , Sara Fernández-Buendía , Juana Bretón-López , Clara Miguel , Pim Cuijpers , Soledad Quero

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Numerous controlled trials have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in exposure treatment for different anxiety disorders. Additionally, several meta-analyses focusing on VR studies are now available. In contrast, the number of studies that focus exclusively on augmented reality (AR) is smaller, and, to the best of our knowledge, there are currently no systematic reviews or meta-analyses available on this topic. The aim of this work is to conduct a systematic review focused exclusively on studies that evaluate the effectiveness of AR in the exposure treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Systematic searches were carried out in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase in January 2025. After the screening of 622 references, thirteen studies were included, twelve of which focused on phobic disorders. Overall, the results of the included studies are promising for the use of AR for conducting the exposure treatment, especially for specific phobias. Furthermore, AR achieved high satisfaction rates and was perceived as less aversive than in vivo exposure based on participants' experiences. However, some limitations should be noted regarding the state of this field of research, especially regarding the small number of included articles and the lack of sufficient RCTs to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy of AR, highlighting the need for further research in this field.

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来源期刊

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Medicine-Health Informatics

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

9.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII) and the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII). The aim of Internet Interventions is to publish scientific, peer-reviewed, high-impact research on Internet interventions and related areas. Internet Interventions welcomes papers on the following subjects: • Intervention studies targeting the promotion of mental health and featuring the Internet and/or technologies using the Internet as an underlying technology, e.g. computers, smartphone devices, tablets, sensors • Implementation and dissemination of Internet interventions • Integration of Internet interventions into existing systems of care • Descriptions of development and deployment infrastructures • Internet intervention methodology and theory papers • Internet-based epidemiology • Descriptions of new Internet-based technologies and experiments with clinical applications • Economics of internet interventions (cost-effectiveness) • Health care policy and Internet interventions • The role of culture in Internet intervention • Internet psychometrics • Ethical issues pertaining to Internet interventions and measurements • Human-computer interaction and usability research with clinical implications • Systematic reviews and meta-analysis on Internet interventions