From extinction learning to anxiety treatment: mind the gap

Laboratory models of extinction learning in animals and humans have the potential to illuminate methods for improving clinical treatment of fear-based clinical disorders. However, such translational research often neglects important differences between threat responses in animals and fear learning in humans, particularly as it relates to the treatment of clinical disorders. Specifically, the conscious experience of fear and anxiety, along with the capacity to deliberately engage top-down cognitive processes to modulate that experience, involves distinct brain circuitry and is measured and manipulated using different methods than typically used in laboratory research. This paper will identify how translational research that investigates methods of enhancing extinction learning can more effectively model such elements of human fear learning, and how doing so will enhance the relevance of this research to the treatment of fear-based psychological disorders.Published versio

Acquisition and extinction across multiple virtual reality contexts: implications for specific phobias and current treatment methods

Victor Wong studied human acquisition learning over multiple contexts using virtual reality. He found that learning an association over multiple contexts can impact subsequent extinction training. This suggests that fears acquired over multiple contexts may be more difficult to treat using exposure-based therapies and will need to be augmented for effectiveness

MASSIVE MISUNDERSTOOD MENACE: GOJIRA (1954), AN ALLEGORY FOR COPING WITH TRAUMA

Abstract In my essay I will be examining whether exposure therapy is an effective method of those coping with PTSD. This is an idea which circulates around the original 1954 Gojira film, where its ending can be interpreted as supporting the idea that coping with trauma must necessarily involve some form of exposure therapy. In the end my research concludes that exposure therapy is effective for those suffering with PTSD under a select few circumstances. This is because trauma can spur symptoms, including borderline personality syndrome, that can negatively affect the outcome of exposure therapy. Despite this, exposure therapy is still highly recommended for patients with anxiety disorders in an effort to desensitize them to whatever prompts their symptoms

An Internet-based treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Flying phobia (FP) is a common and disabling mental disorder. Although in vivo exposure is the treatment of choice, it is linked to a number of limitations in its implementation. Particularly important, is the limited access to the feared stimulus (i.e., plane). Moreover, the economic cost of in vivo exposure should be specially considered as well as the difficulty of applying the exposure technique in an appropriate way; controlling important variables such as the duration of the exposure or the number of sessions. ICTs could help to reduce these limitations. Computer-assisted treatments have remarkable advantages in treating FP. Furthermore, they can be delivered through the Internet, increasing their advantages and reaching more people in need. The Internet has been established as an effective way to treat a wide range of mental disorders. However, as far as we know, no controlled studies exist on FP treatment via the Internet. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an Internetbased treatment for FP (NO-FEAR Airlines) versus a waiting list control group. Secondary objectives will be to explore two ways of delivering NO-FEAR Airlines, with or without therapist guidance, and study the patients’ acceptance of the program. This paper presents the study protocol. Methods/design: The study is a randomized controlled trial. A minimum of 57 participants will be randomly assigned to three conditions: a) NO-FEAR Airlines totally self-applied, b) NO-FEAR Airlines with therapist guidance, or c) a waiting list control group (6 weeks). Primary outcomes measures will be the Fear of Flying Questionnaire-II and the Fear of Flying Scale. Secondary outcomes will be included to assess other relevant clinical measures, such as the Fear and Avoidance Scales, Clinician Severity Scale, and Patient’s Improvement scale. Analyses of post-treatment flights will be conducted. Treatment acceptance and preference measures will also be included. Intention-to-treat and per protocol analyses will be conducted. Discussion: An Internet-based treatment for FP could have considerable advantages in managing in vivo exposure limitations, specifically in terms of access to treatment, acceptance, adherence, and the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. This is the first randomized controlled trial to study this issue. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02298478. Trial registration date 3 November 2014.Funding for the study was provided by grants: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) (Plan Nacional I + D + I. PSI2013-41783-R); Red de Excelencia (PSI2014-56303-REDT) PROMOSAM: Research in processes, mechanisms and psychological treatments for mental health promotion from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (2014); a PhD grant from Generalitat Valenciana (VALi + d) (ACIF/2014/320), and CIBER: CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of ISCIII

An exploratory investigation into the potential of mobile virtual reality for the treatment of paruresis – a social anxiety disorder

This paper describes the initial exploratory phase of developing a VR intervention designed to alleviate the problems people with Paruresis experience when they need to utilise public toilet facilities. The first phase of the study produced a virtual environment, based upon a public toilet, which would run on the widely available Gear VR or Oculus Go HMD. The purpose of this prototype was to facilitate an informed discussion with a focus group of Paruresis patients, to obtain preliminary conclusions on whether they were interested in such an intervention and whether it offered potential to help alleviate the condition. In partnership with the UK Paruresis Trust the software was reviewed by both potential users and domain specialists. Results showed that the majority of participants reported a stress response to the stimulus of the virtual public toilet, indicating that it could be effective as a platform for graduated exposure therapy. Focus group feedback, and input from domain experts, was utilised as part of a participatory design methodology to guide the priorities for a second phase of development. The exploratory study concluded that this approach offers great potential as a future treatment for people with Paruresis

How Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Benefit the Elderly and Individuals with Disabilities

The growing and evolving use  of emerging technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI)  and Virtual Reality (VR),  has significantly impacted the lives of two specific groups—the elderly and the disabled.  This paper investigates potential reasons for this phenomenon.  Clearly, AI and VR Technology alters the everyday lives of people with disabilities and how they navigate the world.  Technological developments increasingly work to address the isolation that people with disabilities as well as the elderly experience for  they are often unable or limited in how they  engage with their communities.  This research paper outlines the way technology has improved  social communication, information distribution, and day-to-day living for those with disabilities and the elderly.Undoubtedly,  the internet has transformed social communication and interaction for most people.   socially isolated individuals with disabilities have gained exposure to social environments through social media.  Moreover, the broad range of information available on the internet  has increased access to resources such as government services, health services, and social services support. On a related point, assistive devices have enabled disabled people including many seniors to overcome motor, sensory, or cognitive difficulties that may have previously hindered them from performing daily tasks.  However, although AI and VR technology has been effectively integrated in the lives of those with disabilities, many such individuals lack access to commonplace technologies, like a personal computer.  This paper examines how  AI and VR technology has enhanced communication, information access, and everyday activities for the disabled and aging communities despite such socio-economic limitations

The Effect of Peer Practice on Communication Apprehension in High School Students: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental, Static-Group Study

Curricula nationwide is trending toward mandating mastery and assessment of communication skills; however, little research exists to provide insight on how to support students suffering from communication apprehension. This quantitative, quasi-experimental, static-group comparison study examines the impact of peer practice on communication apprehension, public speaking anxiety, group discussion, meeting, and interpersonal communication among high school students. This study utilized a convenience sampling with a control and a treatment group; the sample consisted of 275 participants enrolled in grades nine through 12 at a large, public high school in South Carolina. McCroskey’s Personal Report of Communication Apprehension 24 (PRCA-24) (1982b) was used to measure overall communication apprehension, as well as apprehension on four subscales: group discussion, meeting, interpersonal conversations, and public speaking anxiety. This study utilized the total scale measure of communication apprehension as well as the four subscales. An individual samples t-test was used to determine the impact of peer practice on total communication apprehension, while a one-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine the impact of peer practice on each subscale of the PRCA-24: group discussion, meeting, public speaking, and interpersonal. T-test results indicated that peer practice reduced overall communication apprehension compared to control group results; however, MANOVA results found peer practice had no statistically significant impact on group discussion, meeting, public speaking, or interpersonal apprehension individually. Future research should focus on extending the breadth of research in high school populations, examine specific communication contexts, and consider utilizing alternative measures other than PRCA-24