Intervention proposal
“All the information contained in this section is for guidance only. Psious environments are therapy supporting tools that must be used by the healthcare professional within an evaluation and intervention process designed according to the characteristics and needs of the user.
Also remember that you have the General Clinical Guide in which you have more information on how to adapt psychological intervention techniques (exposure, systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring, chip economy…) to Psious environments.”
Example of intervention Fear of driving
A proposal for a treatment protocol that includes the Psious tool is described below. It is recommended to combine virtual reality with traditional techniques, such as relaxation or cognitive restructuring. It is recommended that each healthcare professional adapts the virtual exposure within the treatment protocol that he or she uses regularly.
Description of treatment sessions
SESSION 1: PSYCHOEDUCATION
- Information about driving phobia: origin and manifestations (cognitive, physiological, and behavioral).
- Treatment protocol explanation. The patient should understand the applicability of virtual reality and relaxation techniques.
SESSION 2 + 3: RELAXATION
- Training of two relaxation techniques: Deep breathing and Progressive Muscular Relaxation.
- Patient’s familiarization with VR: Use of neutral environments (e.g., environments for other phobias).
HOMEWORK
Practice of the relaxation techniques. Relaxation diary (see annex 6.2)
SESSION 4: VIRTUAL EXPOSURE + RELAXATION
- Virtual exposure + Relaxation:
- 1- City without cars, during the day when it’s sunny. Track 1.
- 2- City with cars, during the day when it’s sunny. Combine track 1 and 2 with traffic jams, slowdown and horn situations.
- 3- City with cars, during a rainy day + interoceptive exposure (blurry vision)
HOMEWORK
Practice relaxation and self exposure. Relaxation and driving phobia diary (see annex 6.2).
SESSION 5: VIRTUAL EXPOSURE + RELAXATION
- Virtual exposure + Relaxation:
- 1- City with cars during a rainy night. Combine track 1 and 2 with the above mentioned situations.
- 2- City with cars during a rainy night + interoceptive exposure (blurry vision → tunnel vision + hyperventilation)
- 3- Road without cars during the day. Low, mid and high speed.
HOMEWORK
Practice relaxation and self-exposure. Relaxation register and driving phobia diary (see annex 6.2).
SESSION 6: VIRTUAL EXPOSURE + RELAXATION
- Virtual exposure + Relaxation:
- 1- Highway with cars during a sunny day. Mid speed combined with some type of distractor
- 2- Highway with cars during a rainy day. Sections of tunnels and bridges. Highway with cars during a rainy day.
- 3- Sections with tunnels and bridges. Add curves and combine with accidented car. High speed.
HOMEWORK
Practice relaxation and self-exposure. Self Recording of relaxation and driving phobia diary (see annex 6.2).
SESSION 7: VIRTUAL EXPOSURE + RELAXATION
- Virtual exposure + relaxation
- 1- Road with cars during a rainy day. Tunnels and bridges. High speed. Combine last session settings and the use of some type of distractor
- 2- Road with cars during a rainy night. Combine the different elements and add interoception effects.
HOMEWORK
Practicing relaxation and self-exposure. Self Recording of relaxation and driving phobia diary (see annex 6.2).
SESSION 8: CONCLUSIONS AND RELAPSE PREVENTION
- Evaluation of the treatment.
- Future self-exposure planning.
- Tools for future relapse prevention.