The Role of Online Virtual Reality Therapy: New Approaches in Treatment of Aviophobia

Abstract

Aviophobia impacts a considerable portion of the population, inducing fear and anxiety. Symptoms vary from mild dis: comfort to intense panic episodes, affecting both personal and professional fields. Traditional therapy methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are some of the most effective and widely used treatments for people with aviophobia. However, these therapeutic methods face several practical barriers for fear of flying. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is the most employed alternative for addressing this problem. Given the limitations of VRET, Online Virtual Reality Therapy (OVRT) is a highly effective and readily available alternative treatment option for aviophobia, resulting in significant decreases in anxiety and avoidance behaviours. Also, OVRT is an innovative method using technology in an effective and easily available way. The article reviews in detail several studies comparing OVRT with traditional therapeutic approaches, including Standard Exposure Therapy (SE) and CBT. It also compares OVRT with VRET. The aim of the article is to compare traditional therapy approaches for aviophobia with OVRT in terms of treatment efficacy, potential future use, strengths, limitations, and potential side effects through overviewing the relevant literature.

Keywords

• Aviophobia
• Virtual Reality Therapy (VRET)
• Online Virtual Reality Therapy (OVRT)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Psychotherapy

Çevrimiçi Sanal Gerçeklik Terapisinin Rolü: Uçuş Fobisinin Tedavisinde Yeni Yaklaşımlar

Abstract

Uçuş fobisi nüfusun önemli bir kısmını etkileyerek uçuş ile ilgili korku ve endişe gibi belirtilere yol açmaktadır. Belirtiler hafif rahatsızlıktan yoğun panik ataklara kadar değişmekte ve hem kişisel hem de mesleki alanları etkilemektedir. Bilişsel davranışçı terapi (BDT) ve maruz bırakma terapisi gibi geleneksel terapi yöntemleri, uçuş fobisi olan kişiler için etkili ve yaygın olarak kullanılan tedavilerden bazılarıdır. Ancak bu terapi yöntemleri uçuş fobisi tedavisinde çeşitli pratik engeller barındırmaktadır. Sanal Gerçeklik Maruz Bırakma Terapisi (VRET) bu sorunu ele almak için kullanılan bir tedavi yöntem: lerinden olmakla birlikte VRET de çeşitli kısıtlılıklar içermektedir. Çevrimiçi Sanal Gerçeklik Terapisi (OVRT), uçuş fobisi ile ilişkili kaygı ve kaçınmanın azalmasını sağlayan oldukça etkili bir alternatif tedavi seçeneğidir. Ayrıca OVRT, teknolojiyi etkili ve kolay erişilebilir bir şekilde kullanan yenilikçi bir yöntemdir. Makale, OVRT'yi standart maruz bırakma terapisi, BDT ve VRET dahil olmak üzere çeşitli terapötik yaklaşımlarla karşılaştıran birçok çalışmayı çalışmaları ayrıntılı olarak incelemektedir. Makalenin amacı, uçuş fobisi ile ilgili literatürü gözden geçirerek geleneksel terapi yaklaşımlarını; tedavi etkinliği, gelecekteki potansiyel kullanımı, güçlü yönleri, sınırlamaları ve potansiyel yan etkileri açılarından OVRT ile karşılaştırmak amaçlanmıştır.

Keywords

• Uçuş fobisi
• Sanal Gerçeklik Terapisi
• Online Sanal Gerçeklik Terapisi
• Kaygı Bozuklukları
• Psikoterapi

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