|
Title:
|
WITHOUT FEAR: AN E-HEALTH SYSTEM FOR PHOBIA TREATMENT |
|
Author(s):
|
Beatriz Rey , José Antonio Lozano , M. Carmen Juan , Mariano Alcañiz , Rosa Baños , Cristina Botella |
|
ISBN:
|
972-98947-5-2 |
|
Editors:
|
Pedro Isaías, Piet Kommers and Maggie McPherson |
|
Year:
|
2004 |
|
Edition:
|
1 |
|
Keywords:
|
E-health, telepsychology, virtual reality, phobia treatment,
self-help, XML. |
|
Type:
|
Full Paper |
|
First Page:
|
492 |
|
Last Page:
|
499 |
|
Language:
|
English |
|
Cover:
|
|
|
Full Contents:
|
click to dowload 
|
|
Paper Abstract:
|
Effective treatment of psychological disorders using virtual reality environments is now a reality. However, it is still
necessary to generate systems which allow patients to access remotely to self-help virtual reality treatments, without the
need of a direct intervention of the therapist.
In this work, we have designed and tested a self-help program for specific phobia treatment. Phobia to small animals
(spiders, cockroaches and rats) has been selected. The treatment has been organized in different sections: an assessment
protocol, a structured treatment protocol organized in several blocks (such as psychoeducation and exposure to virtual
environments) and an outcome protocol. The exposure to virtual environments is also structured in several levels of
difficulty. The stimuli that are used at each level are controlled automatically by the system. The information of the
patient is stored in XML format in a database which is placed in a remote server. This data is used to control which stages
of the treatment the user is prepared to afford.
The application has been developed and tested with fifteen patients. Results show the effectiveness of the telepsychology
program, with a decrease of fear, avoidance and belief regarding the most important target behavior. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
