Low-Cost, Virtual Reality System to Increase Access to Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Minnesota HealthSolutions MHS in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic proposes to develop a low cost virtual reality system to enhance and increase access to effective therapy for anxiety disorders Anxiety disorders are one of the most common childhood mental health diagnoses yet as many as of youth receive little or no treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT is well supported by the research as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders A key component to successful CBT for treating anxiety disorders is the inclusion of fear provoking exposures Virtual reality exposure therapy VRET has demonstrated efficacy and acceptability in the treatment of a number of anxiety disorders including specific phobias social anxiety disorder panic disorder and agoraphobia post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder and has been used effectively with children VR creates an immersive multimedia experience that is three dimensional In the past the cost of systems has put them out of the price range of most therapists and has made them available only as in office tool New low priced kits offer the possibility of increasing access to therapy A VRET system which provides exposures at home with monitoring will allow providers to offer more frequent treatment than is currently accessible The monitoring of therapy is a key component to ensuring its success The proposed system will be used following an initial assessment with a psychologist and could facilitate exposure therapy with less frequent face to face follow up visits than traditional psychotherapy It is hypothesized that more patients with anxiety disorders will receive effective treatment by the development of a low cost VR system to provide exposure therapy at home The phase I program will design build and test a prototype VR system PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with fear provoking exposures is the most effective therapy for anxiety disorders We aim to enhance this therapy with the use of virtual reality exposures and to make therapy more available and accessible for patients with anxiety disorders The societal benefit of increased access to therapy is that if successful it wll increase the number of patients who receive appropriate treatment for an anxiety disorder