SPECIFIC PHOBIAS

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this line of research is the use of ICTs (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Internet, Apps) for the improvement of exposure therapy for specific phobias (SP), specifically phobia of flying and phobia of small animals (cockroaches and spiders). In vivo exposure therapy is the therapy of choice for SPs, however, it has a number of limitations that hinder its application. On the one hand, many people reject or abandon the treatment because it is perceived as very aversive, and, on the other hand, sometimes access to the phobic stimulus is very difficult or limited, as in the case of flight phobia.

The treatment program through the Internet (SIN MIEDO Airlines program) allows access to the process of flying easily and to adapt the exposure hierarchy to the patient’s needs, in addition to reaching more people through the network. Also, exposure through virtual reality or augmented reality is less aversive and more accepted by patients. Moreover, in the case of the projection-based augmented reality system for the treatment of cockroach and spider phobia (P-ARET), the therapist has a greater degree of control over the feared animal and allows for stimulus variability to carry out the exposure therapy, one of the variables to be considered to maximize the effectiveness of the exposure.

SINCE

2013

RELEVANT MILESTONES AND APPLICATIONS
  • Validation of a self-applied program through the Internet for the treatment of flying phobia (SIN MIEDO Airlines).
  • Validation of a helmet-based Augmented Reality (HMD) program for the treatment of cockroach and spider phobia.
  • Validation of a cockroach image bank for use in experimental studies (e.g., attentional bias tasks using eyetracking).
  • Validation of a projection-based augmented reality program for the treatment of cockroach phobia (P-ARET: Projected Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy).
PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS AND OTHER RELEVANT ASPECTS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED

Publications:

  1. Campos, D., Bretón-López, J., Botella, C., Mira, A., Castilla, D., Baños, R.M., Tortella-Feliu, M. & Quero, S. (2016). An Internet-based treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 16, pp.296. Doi: 10.1186/s12888-016-0996-1
  2. Campos, D., Mira, A., Bretón-López; J., Castilla, D., Botella, C., Baños, R.M. & Quero, S. (2018). The acceptability of an Internet-based Exposure Treatment for Flying phobia with and without therapist guidance: Patients’ Expectations, Satisfaction, Treatment Preferences and Usability. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 14, pp. 879 – 892. ISSN 1178-2021
  3. Campos, D., Bretón-López, J., Botella, C., Mira, A., Castilla, D., Mor, S., Baños, R. y Quero, S. (2019). Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: A randomized controlled trial. BioMedCentral Psychiatry, 19, 86.
  4. Mor, S., Botella, B., Campos, D., Tur, C., Castilla, D., Soler, C. & Quero, S. (2021). An Internet-based treatment for Flying Phobia using 360º images: Study protocol for a feasibility pilot study. Internet Interventions, 24, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100387
  5. Mor, S., Grimaldos, J., Tur, C., Miguel, C., Cuijpers, P., Botella, C. & Quero, S. (2021). Internet- and mobile-based interventions for the treatment of specific phobia: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis. Internet Interventions, 26, 2021.  doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100462
  6. Mor, S., Botella, C., Campos, D., Carlbring, P., Tur, C. & Quero, S. (2022). An Internet-based treatment for flying phobia using 360º images: A feasibility pilot study. Internet Interventions, 28, 2022.  doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100510
  7. Botella, C., Pérez-Ara, M.A., Bretón-López, J., Quero, S., García-Palacios, A. & Baños, R.M. (2016). In vivo versus augmented reality exposure in the treatment of small animal phobia: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE, 11 – 2, pp. 1-22. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148237
  8. Grimaldos., J., Duque, A., Palau-Batet, M. Pastor; M., Bretón-López, J. & Quero, S. (2021). Cockroaches are scarier than snakes and spiders: Validation of an a0ffective standardized set of animal images (ASSAI). Behavior Research Methods, 53, 2338-2350 C. 07/04/2021. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-021-01577-7
  9. Palau-Batet, M., Bretón-López, J., Grimaldos, J., Díaz-Sanahuja, L. & Quero, S. (2023). Improving the efficacy of exposure therapy using Projection-based augmented reality for the treatment of cockroach phobia: A Randomized Clinical Trial protocol. BMJ Open 2023;13:e069026. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069026
  10. Grimaldos, J., Bretón-López, J., Palau-Batet, M., Díaz-Sanahuja, L. & Quero, S. (2023). Effectiveness of a Projection-based Augmented Reality Exposure System in treating Cockroach Phobia: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open 2023;13:e069025. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2022-069025

Award:

“The 2014 Young Minds Research Award”, granted to Quero, S., Campos, D., Botella, C., Baños, R.M., García-Palacios, A. and Guillén, V., for the poster paper “Patients’ expectations and satisfaction with the traditional CBT versus CBT supported by ICTs” presented at the 19th Annual Cyberpsychology & Cybertherapy (Washington, D.C), June 17-19.