1 Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
2 Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2017 Dec;20(12):753-761. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2017.0085. Epub 2017 Dec 6.
A mobile virtual reality system, equipped with built-in variables such as heart rate (HR), gaze-down data, and subjective fear rating, can allow individuals with a fear of heights to overcome it by self-training. This study aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of the training program. Forty-eight volunteers completed the four-session self-training program over 2 weeks. They were allocated into either low- or high-fear group by the Acrophobia Questionnaire (AQ)-anxiety scores, and then the changes of the built-in variables and AQ-anxiety scores were analyzed between the groups. The safety was assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The AQ-anxiety scores were significantly decreased after self-training in both groups, and the degree of decrease was significantly greater in the high-fear group than in the low-fear group. Gaze-down percentage and subjective fear rating showed a significant group difference, but HR did not. The SSQ scores were within the acceptable level. These results suggest that the training effect was greater in the high-fear group than in the low-fear group. This mobile program may be safely applicable to self-training for individuals with high scores on the fear of heights by repeated exposure to virtual environments with the embedded feedback system.
一款配备内置变量（如心率 (HR)、注视下方数据和主观恐惧评分）的移动虚拟现实系统，可以通过自我训练帮助恐高症患者克服恐惧。本研究旨在验证该训练方案的疗效和安全性。48 名志愿者在 2 周内完成了四节自我训练课程。他们根据高空恐惧症问卷 (AQ)-焦虑评分被分配到低恐惧或高恐惧组，然后分析组间内置变量和 AQ-焦虑评分的变化。使用模拟器疾病问卷 (SSQ) 评估安全性。两组的 AQ-焦虑评分在自我训练后均显著降低，且高恐惧组的降低程度显著大于低恐惧组。注视下方百分比和主观恐惧评分显示出显著的组间差异，但 HR 没有。SSQ 评分处于可接受水平。这些结果表明，高恐惧组的训练效果大于低恐惧组。该移动程序可能通过对具有嵌入式反馈系统的虚拟环境进行重复暴露来安全地适用于对高空恐惧得分较高的个体进行自我训练。
