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.”
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.
SESSION 1: PSYCHOEDUCATION + APPLIED TENSION
- Information about blood phobia is provided (origin, maintenance and biphasic anxiety response).
- Treatment techniques that will be used throughout the protocol are presented and justified: exposure to Virtual and Augmented Reality environments, applied tension technique.
- Elaboration of an exhibition hierarchy.
- Introduction and practice of the applied tension technique.
HOMEWORK
Practice of the applied tension technique and filling out the associated self-recording (see Annex 6.1).
SESSION 2-3: APPLIED TENSION
- The technique of applied tension continues.
- Familiarization accompanied by Psious platform. The patient learns how to use the VR headphones and navigate within virtual environments.
HOMEWORK
Daily practice of applied tension and Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation. The self-records of applied tension (see annex 6.1) and relaxation (see annex 6.2) are completed.
SESSION 4: RV EXHIBITION TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES
- From the fourth session on , the gradual and systematic exposure to virtual environments begins. Throughout the exposure sessions, according to the characteristics of each patient, the VR is combined by the applied tension and progressive muscle relaxation techniques.
- The patient is exposed to:
- A waiting room as a companion.
- An extraction room as a companion.
HOMEWORK
Self-exposure to stimuli related to a feared situation. Applied tension and progressive muscle relaxation practice.
SESSION 5: EXHIBITION RV + TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES
- Homework review
- The patient is exposed to:
- The waiting room + interoceptive exposure elements.
- Extraction room + interoceptive exposure elements.
HOMEWORK
Self-exposure to stimuli related to the feared situation. Practice of applied tension and progressive muscular relaxation.
SESSION 6: EXHIBITION RV + TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES
- Homework review.
- The patient is exposed to:
- Extraction room with a finger prick.
- Extraction room with easy extraction.
HOMEWORK
Practice of relaxation techniques and self-exposure to needle-related stimuli.
SESSION 7: VR EXPOSURE + TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES
- Homework review.
- The patient is exposed to:
- Waiting room with interoceptive exposure.
- Extraction room with hard extraction and/or Injection + a real extraction video.
HOMEWORK
Practice of relaxation techniques and self-exposure to stimuli related to needles.
SESSION 8: RELAPSE PREVENTION
- The therapeutic process is evaluated and future self-exposure tasks and reinforcement sessions are programmed.
- Management and prevention of future relapses.