Structured exposure therapy in virtual reality for anxiety, addictions and eating disorders

The first scientifically validated VRET tests date back to 1992, when Atlanta Clark University protocolized an in virtuo treatment for aviophobia. Vietnam war veterans were among the first to access this technology for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The only risk linked to VRET is cybersickness, causing symptoms similar to travel sickness during or after exposure. It has no long-term consequences and affects around 10% of patients. VRET is strictly used for therapeutic purposes.

Children, teenagers, adults and elderly people can be treated with VRET. Some restrictions apply: children under 4 years old, epileptic people, pregnant women (as a precaution, since no studies exist on this topic) and decompensating psychotic patients.

VRET treats anxiety disorders (specific phobias, social phobia, agoraphobia, PTSD), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, hyperphagia), and addictions (alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, marijuana, gambling). Depression, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia and autism can also be addressed.

You need a virtual reality headset, either wireless (Oculus Quest 2, Pico Neo 2 & 3, Oculus Rift S, Hp Reverb G2) or wired. For wired headsets, a computer with a Core i5 9300H processor, 8GB RAM, a Gtx 1650 graphic card and a display port is required.

This is called cybersickness, a well-known and reversible phenomenon affecting part of the population. It's recommended to start with static environments, then gradually introduce slight head movements before moving to slow displacements.

Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses, psychomotor specialists, sophrologists and hypnotherapists can use VRET. Training is required to understand exposure principles in virtual reality; C2Care offers training, though therapists can also be trained through other means (events, e-learning).

Virtual reality helps therapists stand out from traditional treatment options and improves patient engagement thanks to its interactive nature. It also saves time by giving direct access to exposure environments without external logistics.

• Professional differentiation: integrating virtual reality into practice sets a therapist apart from traditional treatment options.
• Scientific validation: VRET is backed by extensive research, reinforcing its credibility as a treatment method.
• Improved patient engagement: the interactive nature of virtual reality fosters greater patient involvement in therapy.
• Time-saving: virtual reality gives direct access to exposure environments without external logistics.

C2Care's technical support team can be reached via live chat from your control panel. If an issue occurs with your headset, the team helps diagnose the problem and find a solution; if necessary, a return label is provided and the defective equipment is replaced within 48 hours.

C2Care uses artificial intelligence through the assistant IA Camille and through virtual characters within the scenes. Camille acts as a trusted companion with whom the patient can share concerns without fear of judgment, while the virtual characters faithfully replicate real-life social behaviors in contexts such as a party, a date, a job interview or a spontaneous conversation in the street.

Virtual reality treats anxiety disorders (specific phobias, social phobia, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, hyperphagia and obesity) and addictions (alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana, gambling). It is also used for depression, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia and autism, as well as relaxation and pain management.