Abstract
Several treatments have been tested and are currently in practice, such as exposure therapy, VR treatment, medications, and more. The most common treatment is exposure therapy, but this treatment leaves patients feeling uncomfortable, anxious, stressed, panicked, and more. This experiment will test and compare exposure therapy to VR treatment and see which one is more beneficial and enjoyable to the subject. Subjects will undergo both treatments for their specific phobias and will take surveys based on their experience. This experiment targets adolescents from ages 13-18, which is when phobia starts to immerse itself and become most impactful. This experiment will benefit the research of phobia treatments, and how this will encourage more people to get treatment.
Introduction
Literature Review
Most people have heard the word “phobia” or even know what a phobia is, but most people don’t understand how impactful or serious a phobia can be. A phobia is an anxiety disorder where someone has an irrational fear that induces anxiety, stress, and great fear in them. Some common phobias include the phobia of spiders, dogs, heights, airplane transportation, tight spaces, and more. People with phobias have either phobic objects, phobic situations, or phobic things, which identifies what causes them fear and anxiety. According to an article about the difference between phobia and fear, Hull explains how many people often believe in the misconception of a phobia being a fear (Hull et al., 2021). Although fear plays a role in phobia, it isn’t phobia itself. Fear is a normal emotion that all humans face, but the difference between fear and phobia is that phobia is persistent no matter the situation, it may promote anxiety, stress, or even dread. Phobias go beyond this as someone with a specific phobia may feel in danger when they are not exposed to the trigger. In a study on where phobias come from, a team of scientists found that phobias are, in fact, an anxiety disorder due to its severity (Winerman et al., 2005).
In order to understand the background behind phobias, scientists are extending their research by studying the brain. They are using PET and fMRI scans to read the brain during treatment in order to find the most effective ways to treat phobias. A part of the brain called the amygdala is playing a large role in triggering phobias. Several studies have been built from animal research and how phobias affect them. Scientists have done research on how our brains react to a phobia and how panic and fear runs through our brain when the phobic object or situation enters. Many people start developing phobias at 13. Specific phobias can cause more harm to people. Phobias occur because of a dysfunction in the brain where a person experiences great fear, anxiety, and panic over a non-threatening situation.
The three different types of phobias include specific phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia. Specific phobia is the most common type of phobia. Most people with specific phobias will have more than one phobia. Social phobia is also called social anxiety disorder where a person may act irrational and cannot function because of avoidance. Agoraphobia is the fear of having a panic attack or interacting with others. A more severe version of this is not wanting to leave the house. As phobias become more and more common, more research is being done about ways to treat this anxiety disorder. Exposure therapy is the most common treatment.
In a 2003 study testing a different method to treat phobias, scientists found that several different kinds of phobia treatments can treat anxiety disorders, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, and more (Pilcher et al., 2003). The current research states that behavioral therapy is the most common form of therapy for phobias, but it has been shown to be expensive, timely, and uncomfortable. However, VR technology treatments have allowed phobic patients to have lower anxiety. This topic affects a whole group of the world’s population as many people struggle from phobias.
Rationale
In this study, it is important to focus on the adolescent community. Phobias start to develop within this period of life as childhood traumas start to fade and phobias begin to arise. Studying this community will allow researchers to be able to quickly treat phobias or even prevent it from occurring. I want to conduct this experiment because the severity of phobias is often overlooked, which is why it's important that people with phobias can get treated in the most effective way possible. Current research is fairly minimal because not many people have phobias that affect their daily life. However, people with severe phobias struggle a lot and don’t seek treatments. Research is important because people should know about effective treatments that could help them. There have also been a few advantages to current research, and that is the several different phobias that have been certified and some treatment methods. It is important to improve current research by finding more effective treatments that don’t cause uncomfortability or anxiety during the treatment process.
Objectives
This experiment is important because phobia treatments need to be broadened and more efficient for the patient. In my experiment, I will test the difference between exposure therapy and the recent technological advances using VR. I intend on having patients test both treatments and answering a survey post treatments about their experience. The survey will include information about the enjoyability, whether they would recommend it to someone else, their thoughts of effectiveness, etc. Patients will participate in both treatments and patients will have all kinds of different phobias. These results will benefit the target community by deciding the best treatment and encouraging people with phobias to continue to engage in their favorite treatment. This study will also encourage others to get treatment and encourage more research in this issue.
Design & Methodology
Duration and Location
This experiment will be conducted in a lab that does not have any irregular objects. The idea is that the subject will not feel threatened or uncomfortable. It can take place in any room with nothing out of the ordinary. Depending on the phobia of the subject, we may have to adjust to an outdoor setting. This experiment will take approximately three hours. 30 minutes will be reserved for a survey prior to the experiment. One hour will be reserved for exposure therapy for their specific phobia. Another hour will be reserved for VR therapy. The final 30 minutes will be for the post experiment survey.
Subjects
In this study, we will be identifying a random selection of 100 people with a specific phobia. Subjects for this experiment will have one of the listed phobias: heights, dogs, insects, snakes, or needles. Subjects will be from the age of 13-18. This is the time where most phobias develop and can be extremely impactful on one’s life.
Exposure Therapy
1-3 trained exposure therapy therapist
1-5 insects
1 dog
1 snake
1-5 needles (10 cm. - 20 cm.)
Access to a flight of stairs or rooftop balcony
Virtual Reality + Medication Treatment
1-3 trained VR professionals who have helped to treat phobia
VR goggles
VR controllers
Etc. VR equipment
Sanitation wipes
Survey
1 pre-experiment survey
1 post-experiment survey
Procedures
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Have subjects, one at a time, come into the lab/room. A survey will be given to them to take before any experimenting.
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After the survey is finished, the group of exposure therapy therapists will give an hour therapy session on their phobia. This will include the subject being exposed to their phobic object.
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After the session is over, the subject will have a session with the virtual reality therapist. Similar to step two, the subject will have an hour session with this kind of therapy.
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After an hour, the subject will be given a post experiment survey about their experience.
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These steps will repeat for all of the subjects.
Data Analysis
The results of this experiment will mainly be based on the surveys given pre and post experiment. However, the post survey will hold most of the data. Surveys will ask the subject about the enjoyment of the process, which one they feel was most effective, which treatment they’d like to continue, etc. This information will allow subjects to sort out the two experiences they had and produce data for this experiment. From the responses, graphs can be made to show the more effective and enjoyable phobia treatment. This will allow other people with phobias to perhaps try out a phobia treatment that may be more suitable for them, and encourage more people to get treated rather than to live with their phobia.
Links with Other Projects
There are currently several research projects about phobias and how they come to be, but not so many on how to treat it, as many people live with their phobia. Some experiments are focusing on VR treatments and how to make it more advanced. There are several programs within VR that are effective for specific phobias and in this way, our experiments would overlap. This experiment tests the more effective and enjoyable treatment of the most common treatment (exposure therapy) and the newest and advanced treatment (VR therapy). After comparing the two types of treatments, this will allow more people to get treated for their phobia and also encourage people to engage in the treatment that is right for them. Each experiment has its benefits and will help more people with their phobias. It is important to pay attention to the more enjoyable and more effective treatment but also if there is a pattern in a better treatment for a specific type of phobia. This will allow researchers to see if there is a better phobia treatment for a specific phobia.
Anticipated Problems
In this experiment, many factors are uncertain as the data is based on survey responses. If subjects are not honest in their survey, then the data will not be accurate. Since we are not testing exact growth in the brain, we won’t know which therapy was actually most beneficial. Another limitation is the methods of therapy. We are testing both exposure therapy and VR treatment which may not be developed to the same level. How do we know if the therapist or specialist that is brought in, has the same level of experience and expertise in this field than the other therapist? This is something that we go in blindly with. When testing with humans, several problems can arise as each subject will be different, act different, like different things, etc. Is it possible that something beyond the experiment’s control can affect mood and affect the results.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this experiment, we will have several pie charts showing the several different questions that subjects use to evaluate the type of phobia treatment. Within these pie charts, will be two different sections (one for exposure therapy and one for the VR treatment). I expect that the VR treatment will be more enjoyable and more effective due to its new technological improvements and based on past research.
Ethical Considerations
Informed Decision Making and Confidentiality Consent Forms
This study requires subjects to be exposed to their phobic object. This may cause anxiety, uncomfortability, stress, fear, shortness of breath, panic, etc. It is also important for the experiment and anything subjects did to be kept confidential for research purposes.
Risk-Benefit Assessment
By participating in this study, subjects are undergoing the risk of feeling anxiety, uncomfortability, stress, fear, shortness of breath, panic, etc. This can cause a decline in mental health and could lead to death. Several people with phobias undergo these kinds of treatments routinely. However, with the participation of adolescents, we will be able to identify an effective treatment for phobias and encourage others to get treated so they don’t have to suffer with their anxiety disorder any longer.
Bibliography
Hull, M. et al. (2021). Fear vs. Phobia: What’s the Difference?. The Recovery Village. https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/phobias/related/fear-vs-phobia/
Pilcher, H. R., (2003). Antibacterial eases phobia. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/news031110-6
Winerman, L. et al. (2005). Figuring out Phobia. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug05/figuring
