Understanding the Mechanisms Behind Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy, in which patients gradually face the things and situations they fear, is among the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders, yet it remains underutilized (Pittig, Kotter, & Hoyer, 2019). Some patients may find it too intimidating while clinicians...
Researchers Find New Ways to Support Children Impacted by War in Ukraine
A classroom in Ukraine uses materials from the Stories with Clever Hedgehog project. Photo provided by Roberta Golinkoff Quick Take In 2023, 473 million children worldwide lived in a conflict zone. Children exposed to war are at increased risk of...
Exposure Therapy Challenges Patient Expectations
Quick Take During exposure therapy, patients face their fears to build new, positive associations with situations they find threatening. Researchers may need to integrate competing theories of how exposure therapy works—including the inhibitory learning theory, the emotional processing theory, and...