Publication date: Available online 30 January 2020
Source: Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Author(s): Mujgan Inozu, Ufuk Celikcan, Burcin Akin, Nuray Mustafaoğlu Cicek
Abstract
Background and objectives
Virtual reality (VR) has become a new tool in psychological research and application. Although several studies have investigated its triggering and reducing role in anxiety via VR-based exposure and response prevention (VR-ERP) across different psychopathologies, its efficiency in contamination fear and reduction of disgust are yet to be examined. The study contributes to the field by investigating the effectiveness of the VR-ERP on the reduction of anxiety and disgust levels and urge to wash using an experimental design.
Methods
A total of 21 non-clinical participants with high contamination fear were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 9) and control (n = 12) groups. The experimental group was exposed to repeated VR-ERP sessions.
Results
After a minimum of three VR-ERP sessions, the experimental group scored significantly lower than the control group on the anxiety, disgust, and urge to wash hands scores.
Limitations
A small sample size, an analogue sample, and a generic virtual scenario content were potential limitations of the study.
Conclusions
The results indicated that the VR-ERP can be an efficient and alternative exposure tool in the reduction of anxiety, disgust, and urge to wash hands. The theoretical and clinical applications of the VR-ERP in the treatment of contamination-based OCD symptoms were discussed in light of our findings.