Virtual reality exposure therapy in the treatment of fear of flying: a case report

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 34; no. 5; pp. 477 - 481
• Main Authors: Rothbaum, Barbara Olasov, Hodges, Larry, Watson, Benjamin A., Kessler, G.Drew, Opdyke, Dan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.1996; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aircraft; Behavior Therapy - methods; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Combined Modality Therapy; Computer Simulation; Desensitization, Psychologic - methods; Fear; Fear & phobias; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Phobic Disorders - psychology; Phobic Disorders - therapy; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social research; Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Virtual reality; Human; Fear; Treatment; Flight; Adult; Anxiety; Behavior therapy
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-7967(96)00007-1

The efficacy of virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy was examined for the fear of flying. Virtual reality exposure involved six sessions of graded exposure to flying in a virtual airplane. The specific contribution of anxiety management techniques (AMT) and the VR exposure was examined in a single case design. The subject was a 42-year-old female with a debilitating fear and avoidance of flying. All self-report measures of the fear and avoidance of flying decreased following AMT and decreased still further following VR exposure. A planned post-treatment flight was completed with anxiety measures indicating comfortable flight. The implications of this new medium for exposure therapy are discussed.