Fear of flying
and virtual reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is a less complex, cheaper alternative to in vivo exposure for 2.2. Going to the airport 2.3. Boarding Gate 2.4. The Plane the treatment of flying phobia. This technology does not require a high imagination capacity on the patient as the case of the typical exposure techniques. Also, the exposure can be modified to the patients needs when using VR, as the healthcare professional can control different parameters such as duration of the flight, weather conditions, people on the flight,etc. healthcare professional
Many studies demonstrate the efficiency of VR as a treatment for specific phobias. A systematic review about the use of VR as a therapeutic tool of flying phobia showed that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) combined with relaxation techniques and VR exposure is effective for the treatment of flying phobia (Costa et al. 2008). Also, a study by Botella (2004) demonstrated the efficiency of VR as treatment for flying phobia in long and short term.