ABSTRACT
Chapter 13 describes how virtual reality (VR) can contribute to effective treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia. VR can be particularly helpful for clients who struggle with agoraphobia. These clients are often too afraid to face their feared situations in real life. For clients who feel unable to come to the office, virtual reality therapy (VRT) can be offered via teletherapy if clients have the necessary equipment. The comprehensive model of anxiety and its treatment introduced in Chapter 2 is used to help readers diagnose and understand panic disorder and agoraphobia and to plan and structure treatment. Readers then see how various applications of VR, described in Chapters 3 and 4, are specifically used when treating fear of panic and agoraphobic avoidance. The chapter also describes ways to incorporate interoceptive exposure with virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). Two case examples demonstrate VRT for panic disorder and agoraphobia and the chapter ends with a brief review of the research evidence supporting the acceptability and effectiveness of using VR for these conditions.
