Implementation of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment and Research of Panic Disorder A scoping review of the state of the art

Abstract

Panic disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder. It places an immense load on those affected and poses a considerable burden to the public health sector. Virtual reality (VR) promises both, chances of swift recovery and alleviating some of the burden that needs to be carried by healthcare providers. This study seeks to review the current applications of VR technology in the treatment and research of panic disorder. First a literature review is provided to establish a common knowledge base of both panic disorder and VR. The review part takes the shape of a scoping review following the new preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach for scoping reviews. A total of 350 studies were identified from the databases EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycInfo. After removal of duplicates 238 articles were screened by title and abstract. Full articles were retrieved for 51 studies. After assessment for eligibility, 13 articles remained and were included in the scoping review. Data was extracted from the articles using a data extraction form. Results show that VR exposure therapy (VRET) and CBT are the dominant applications for VR in the treatment of PD. All studies showed a decrease in panic disorder symptoms after VRET. Other uses of VR included the conception of a diagnostic program, an autonomous smartphone-based therapy approach and anxiety induction by means of personalised exposure. An overview of the current implementation of VR in the treatment and research of panic disorder was provided. It is concluded that the use of such technologies will increase due to high efficacy and a large variety of potential applications.