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...
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...