Solved: Fighting fear using virtual reality
Computers are not just for entertainment, shopping or [Others]
Fighting fear using virtual reality
Computers are not just for entertainment, shopping or research purposes - as one woman found out
when she tried to cure her fears
Most people have at least one thing they are afraid of. A fear of things like snakes, spiders, dogs, heights
or open spaces affects over 90% of the population. In extreme cases, a fear can develop into a phobia,
where the fear of something is so powerful it can affect the way the sufferer lives their life. About 10%
of people suffer from a phobia. Most sufferers never seek treatment, because the most common type of
cure - 'exposure therapy' - involves them being exposed to the object of their fear, and this is the last
thing many of them are prepared to do.
There is now a new cure for phobias, using something called virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET).
The concept is simple. The person with the phobia wears a virtual reality headset. A computer, controlled
by a therapist, then simulates a variety of situations in which the sufferer is gradually exposed to the
object of their fear, which they view on the headset's screen. At the same time, the therapist explains
why they should not be afraid of it. The technique is surprisingly successful, as this case demonstrates.
Sara Considine had a serious spider phobia, and had developed several spider-related behaviour patterns.
Before going to bed, for example, she would check her room for spiders, then seal the windows with
tape so none could get in. She had frightening dreams about spiders every night. Eventually, she decided
to get treatment.
During twelve one-hour virtual reality sessions over a three-month period, Ms Considine started very
slowly. First, she stood a long way from the virtual spider and just looked at it. Slowly, she moved a
little closer. The therapist controlling the computer programme then made the virtual spider move. After
just two sessions, Ms Considine reported that although she still saw spiders in her dreams, they were no
longer frightening, and she had even managed to have an amusing `conversation' with one of them. A
few sessions later, the therapist encouraged her to hold the virtual spider in her virtual hand, and put it
in places where the presence of a real spider would cause her fear. The next stage was to introduce touch.
A large toy spider was placed next to her. Ms Considine then reached out to touch the virtual spider she
could see on the screen, and at the same time her real hand touched the toy spider.
After her sessions were over, Sara Considine was able to stop her spider-related behaviour. She even
took up camping, something she would never have considered before therapy. More recently she has
appeared on a television nature programme, where for the first time she was able to hold a real spider in
her hands.
Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-J, below.
Treating a phobia using VRET
Sara Considine's programme of treatments lasted for 1 _months. At first, the sessions did
not move very 2._ , as she just 3_ the virtual spider through her headset. It only
took two sessions for her to stop being 4 _the spiders in her dreams. After a while, she
could hold the virtual spider in her virtual hand, and the next stage involved making
physical 5._ with a toy spider.
A afraid of B amused by C contact D held E observed
F quickly G slowly H touch I three J twelve
