Virtual reality displays 80% effectiveness against phobias, with benefits that are maintained more than a year after treatment, according to Eric Malbos, psychiatrist.
C2Care supports practitioners in the management of agoraphobia through customizable immersive environments.
Exposure to open spaces, crowds or public transport may be relevant in supporting the agoraphobic patient. However, reproducing these situations in consultation is not always simple.
Some depend on an external context that is difficult to control, such as the influx of a crowd or the unforeseen events of a transport journey, while their repetition and progression remain complex to organize.
Virtual reality makes it possible to recreate these environments directly in the office, in a controlled and reproducible setting, without exposing the patient to the hazards of a real situation.
The C2Care environments make it possible to recreate the situations feared by the agoraphobic patient and to gradually integrate them over the course of the sessions.
The patient can thus confront an open space, a dense crowd or a journey on public transport, while the practitioner adjusts the intensity of the scene according to the reaction observed.
These repeated exposures make it possible to work with the patient on catastrophic thoughts, avoidance and automatisms linked to the fear of losing control.
VRET
The practitioner seats the patient on a swivel chair and fits them with the virtual reality headset
Using the control interface, the practitioner selects the environment suited to the session's goals and starts the exposure.
During immersion, the practitioner supports the patient using a visual feed and can adjust the exposure scene in real time
Environments
Each environment recreates a situation feared by the agoraphobic patient, for progressive and secure exposure.
Outdoor spaces may be empty or progressively busier.
The supermarket makes it possible to regulate the attendance and the density of people.
The metro can be uncrowded, crowded, at night or broken down.
Outdoor crowd levels allow for gradual exposure.
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Solène Montègue
Neuropsychiatrist
The developments C2Care is currently integrating into the interface are very promising and meet the established therapeutic objectives [...]: offering tailored exercises that can be adapted to levels of dependency, cognitive disorders, and patients' real-time responses.
Samia Lahya
Psychiatrist
With the acquisition of new equipment [...] and updates to the C2Care programs, its use has expanded even further: OCD, phobias, addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. Ten years later, it is no longer merely a curiosity, but a genuine therapeutic tool that is stimulating, innovative, and effective.
Sabrina Gineau
Psychologist
I incorporate this technology into brief therapies lasting two to four months, with one session per week. I begin with relaxation techniques and, when patients are ready, we proceed. It makes it much easier to expose people to these situations.
Noël Schepers
Psychologist
Virtual reality can enrich and personalize treatment, facilitate patient-therapist collaboration in developing the treatment plan, and add a playful dimension. The possibilities for development and application are immense and extend to every area of psychology and psychotherapy.
Mélanie Boucherot
Psychologist
The value of this technology [C2Care] lies in offering new possibilities for therapeutic support and expanding the range of tools available to healthcare professionals.
François Maltese
Psychologist
For several months, we have been using virtual reality in habituation therapies. Before the procedure, patients are progressively and immersively exposed to their future medical environment and psychologically prepared to accept it.
Dre Marie-Claude Roberge
Doctor of Psychology
Since 2022, we have been using virtual reality therapy with the C2Care platform to simulate exposure to aversive stimuli and triggers that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is used to treat specific phobias, including fear of heights, enclosed spaces, flying, dogs, emetophobia, and many others.
Dr Laure Du Pouget
Urologist
Using a virtual reality headset for self-hypnosis during prostate biopsies creates a calm atmosphere for a procedure that can sometimes be uncomfortable, even with effective local anesthesia...
Delphine Py
Psychologist
Thank you to C2Care for providing innovative virtual reality solutions to support CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)! A major step forward in making exposure exercises easier and helping our patients overcome their phobias.
Wechsler et al. — Effectiveness of virtual reality exposure compared to in vivo exposure in agoraphobia and phobias
Inferiority or Even Superiority of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Phobias? A Systematic Review and Quantitative Meta-Analysis
Carl et al. — Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
Virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Freitas et al. — Treatment by exposure to virtual reality for phobias
Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment in Phobias: a Systematic Review
Wiebe et al. — Virtual reality in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
Virtual reality in the diagnostic and therapy for mental disorders: A systematic review
Krzystanek et al. — Recommendations for Effective Implementation of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Phobias
Tips for Effective Implementation of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Phobias-A Systematic Review
Discover more
Depending on your patients' needs, other areas may also be relevant to explore. Discover the different environments available in C2Care.
Create a free account to discover all exposure situations and subscribe directly online
FAQ
Find the answers to the questions most asked by practitioners on the management of agoraphobia in virtual reality.
C2Care has been testing its virtual reality software in hospitals since 2016. This clinical experience has made it possible to refine the immersive environments, including those dedicated to agoraphobia, and to adapt them to the needs of practitioners and patients.
A virtual environment is an immersive scene reproducing an anxiety-provoking situation, such as an open space, an elevator or a crowd. The practitioner adjusts his difficulty gradually to expose the patient in a controlled and safe manner.
Virtual reality is not dangerous in itself, but it can cause cybersickness in around 10% of people (nausea, disorientation). Exposure remains graduated and supervised by a practitioner to limit this risk.
Virtual reality treats anxiety disorders, phobias (including agoraphobia), addictions and certain cognitive disorders. It allows for graduated exposure to situations such as open spaces, public transportation or crowds.
Some users experience cybersickness, which affects around 10% of people exposed to virtual reality. It manifests itself as nausea or a feeling of disorientation, which is generally temporary.
Practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists or occupational therapists, use virtual reality to support their agoraphobic patients. Dr. Redwan and psychologist Jordan Fannis both testify to its use to control exposure and secure care.
Patients avoiding open spaces, enclosed spaces, public transportation, or crowds may benefit from virtual reality exposure therapy. Graduated exposure helps them to gradually confront these feared situations, in safety.
The patient wears a headset and moves in an immersive environment reproducing an anxiety-provoking situation: open space, elevator, public transport. The practitioner gradually adjusts the difficulty and personalizes the parameters according to the patient's needs.
Psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists can use virtual reality in their practice, within CHU, hospitals, clinics or in private practice.
The interactive aspect promotes patient engagement and adherence to treatment. Adaptable environments allow exercises to be precisely tailored to the needs of each patient.
Yes, all our environments are grouped into a single application.
Our technical service can be reached via live chat from your control platform. In the event of a problem with the headset, a diagnosis is made and the defective equipment is replaced within 48 hours if necessary.
Patients suffering from agoraphobia, claustrophobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or depression may benefit from virtual reality exposure therapy.
You can send your request to our customer service, reachable via the live chat of your control platform.
