6533b831fe1ef96bd12983f6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Virtual Reality and Other Realities

Cristina BotellaSoledad QueroRosa M. BañosAzucena García-palacios

subject

Virtual realityData scienceMixed reality030227 psychiatryTest (assessment)Panacea (medicine)03 medical and health sciencesHealth psychology0302 clinical medicineSystematic reviewAugmented realityPsychological testingPsychologySocial psychology030217 neurology & neurosurgery

description

Abstract In this chapter, we describe virtual reality and other mixed reality technological tools, highlighting the role they can play in the Clinical and Health Psychology fields: as stimulating, safe and controlled therapeutic contexts for applying psychological treatments; as ecological settings for conducting psychological assessment; and as a realistic laboratory for psychopathology to test research questions that would be very difficult or impossible to address in a traditional laboratory setting. The existing meta-analyses and systematic reviews of their efficacy are presented. The majority of studies have used virtual realities (VRs) as exposure techniques. This is not surprising, considering the possibility VRs offer to present the feared stimuli/contexts/situations in a controlled manner and, at the same time, assess and register a high number of patient responses. The possibility of merging VRs and other information and communication tools is discussed. The conclusion is drawn that although these technological applications are not a panacea, they have a promising future.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2017-01-01
https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-803457-6.00022-2