A Virtual Reality Solution to Handle Social Anxiety

Ana Paula Cláudio, Maria Beatriz Carmo, Tânia Pinheiro and Francisco Esteves
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Ana Paula Cláudio: Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Maria Beatriz Carmo: Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Tânia Pinheiro: Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
Francisco Esteves: Mid Sweden University, Department of Psychology, Östersund, Sweden, University Institute of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

International Journal of Creative Interfaces and Computer Graphics (IJCICG), 2013, vol. 4, issue 2, 57-72

Abstract: Anxiety is an increasingly common feeling in our society; it can be very debilitating and, if not properly treated, can evolve to more serious health problems. This paper describes a low-cost Virtual Reality solution to support the treatment of social anxiety, more specifically the anxiety of speaking in front of an audience. Our application involves: i) a simulation that takes place in a virtual auditorium inhabited by animated virtual humans with controllable behaviours; ii) an interface which allows the therapist to control these behaviors and a set of features and events of the simulation, inducing different levels of distress in the patients. The use of Virtual Reality environments for the treatment of phobias emerged in the 90s and usually implies expensive special purpose hardware. Our challenge was to conceive a low-cost solution, easy to install and use for people without expertise in informatics.

Date: 2013
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