The Use of Mixed Reality for Exposure Therapy to Improve Phobia Handling

Abstract

Nearly everyone experiences some form of phobia-relevant fear—an excessive dread and inappropriate response to specific stimuli—at some point, either directly or indirectly, though not necessarily to the extent of a phobic disorder. This article presents a novel method for managing phobia-related fear using mixed reality (MR) application. Teaching phobia patients to recognize and manage their fear is crucial in therapy. Through MR, clients can experience scenarios linked to their phobia and see their responses. This training helps them cope better and allows for accurate fear assessment. The paper details creating the MR application “HoloPhoBye” for arachnophobia and ophidiophobia, compatible with Microsoft HoloLens 2. A study involving participants with these phobias assessed the effectiveness of exposure therapy through MR. Initial findings indicate a significant reduction in anxiety levels post-intervention, suggesting MR as a potent tool in phobia treatment. The design emphasizes gradual exposure, from less intimidating to more realistic encounters. Our research highlights MR’s potential to revolutionize traditional phobia management approaches.