Therapists fight phobias with virtual reality scenes

By Staff Writer

Researchers working on phobias and psychotic disorders have found a way to use virtual reality video games to help patients learn to confront their fears.

By immersing patients in computerized versions of situations such as flying in an airplane or climbing a high ladder, scientists can study their reactions and train them to cope with anxieties.

Psychology experts at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands created the system as a therapy for phobias and social disorders as well as psychotic conditions such as paranoia. People living with those conditions sometimes struggle with a traditional classroom environment and can benefit from studies at a therapeutic school.

The scientists described their work on VRET (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy) systems in the latest issue of Delft Outlook, the university's science magazine.

For their first project, the team created a vibrating aircraft seat and virtual reality helmet that allow people to experience the sounds and feelings of flying without actually boarding a plane.

In another program, the team created a virtual pub that can help patients with debilitating social conditions to practice staying calm while chatting with strangers. While the program plays each scenario, researchers record subjects' heartbeats and sweat production and teach patients methods to overcome their fears.