In this scenario, the patient finds themselves sitting inside an office. In front, they find different virtual characters sitting around a table. It is a virtual environment in which, depending on the needs of each patient, different types of situations can be represented: a job interview, a presentation in front of work colleagues, an oral exam, etc.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Amount of people
None
Minimum (1 person)
Medium (3 people)
Maximum (6 people)
Difficulty.
Low (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
High (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)
EVENTS
Distraction. Choice of a series of distractions:, a Skype call coming through on the patient’s laptop, a mobile telephone ringing when it receives a message (short sound), one of the audience receiving a phone call (in this case one of the colleagues tells the patient not to pay attention to the telephone, as they know they are in a meeting), or someone interrupting the meeting.
Positive remark
Neutral remark
Negative remark
Therapeutic remark This event is useful for the healthcare professional to make a remark to the patient while they find themselves within the immersive environment, so as to avoid breaking the dynamics of the session.
This last virtual environment is practically the same as the previous one, but it can be used for more specific situations. This time the patient finds themselves again in an auditorium, sitting on the seats until the go to stage event is selected. However, the difference is that the lights are down, and there is a camera on the stage focussed directly at the lobby, that is to say where the patient will be placed.
Therefore, this environment can be useful for patients who have to give a broadcast conference, or perhaps a talk that will be recorded or broadcast on television…
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Amount of People
None
Low (room practically empty)
Medium (room almost full of people)
Full (room completely full)
Difficulty
Easy (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
Hard (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)
EVENTS
Go to the stage The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
Positive question One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
Negative question In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
Therapist positive feedback When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
Therapist negative feedback This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
Applause The audience applauds the speaker.
Spectator leaves room One person gets up and leaves the room.
Distraction Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.
APPENDIX
List of positive questions
It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?
List of negative questions
Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
“You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?
The same as in the audience, when launching this environment, the patient finds themselves seated, and until the “go to stage” event is activated the patient will remain in this position. Even so, differently to the audience, this time the patient is sitting on seats looking at the stage, where they can see a lobby. Once on the stage they are placed in front of this lobby, and as in the previous environment, the patient can make a short personal presentation and, afterwards, make a report on a previously prepared topic.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Amount of People
None
Low (room practically empty)
Medium (room almost full of people)
Full (room completely full)
Gender Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
Skin tone Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Difficulty
Easy (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
Hard (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)
EVENTS
Go to the stage The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
Positive question One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
Negative question In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
Therapist positive feedback When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
Therapist negative feedback This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
Applause The audience applauds the speaker.
Spectator leaves room One person gets up and leaves the room.
Distraction Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.
APPENDIX
List of positive questions
It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?
List of negative questions
Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
“You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?
In the first moment, the patient is sitting in one of the audience seats. If no event is selected, the patient will remain in this position, and will only be placed on the stage if the healthcare professional selects the event “go on stage”. Once on stage, the user is sitting behind a table, from there they can make a short personal presentation and, afterwards, make a report on a previously prepared topic.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Amount of People
None
Minimum (room practically empty)
Medium (room almost full of people)
Maximum (room completely full)
Gender Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
Skin tone Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Difficulty
Low (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
High (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)
Sanitary mask You can choose whether or not the people around you will have a mask.
EVENTS
Go to the stage The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
Positive question One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
Negative question In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
Public comments Some members of the audience start talking amongst themselves.
Therapist positive feedback When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
Therapist negative feedback This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
Applause The audience applauds the speaker.
Spectator leaves room One person gets up and leaves the room.
Distraction. Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.
APPENDIX
List of positive questions
It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?
List of negative questions
Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
“You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?
List of public comments
He looks very tense. Yes, it’s true, he could speak louder, it’s not that difficult.
He looks very tense. I bet it’s his first time.
This talk is so boring. I hope it’ll end soon, this is taking forever.
Have you noticed how much he’s shaking? Yes, I’ve noticed. Also he is sweating a lot.
Seems like he lacks self-confidence, he won’t stop turning his head from side to side. You are right.
Can anyone bring some coffee? We are going to end up falling asleep. This is torturing.
Why is his voice trembling? Isn’t he sure about what he’s saying? Does he know what he’s talking about?
This environment consists of a blood extraction located in a real scenario. Initially the patient will be in a waiting room and after a few seconds the nurse will call him to enter the room where the extraction will take place.
This environment can be very useful for the exploration of the patient’s current state and its anxiogenic configuration in the face of the feared situation. For example, by putting the patient in a situation, negative thoughts or physiological reactions can be analysed (if biofeedback equipment is available).
This scenario consists in a waiting room, where the patient is initially placed, and an extraction room, where the healthcare professional can later lead the patient to. In both spaces, the patient can hear different commentaries from other patients related to the needles and then, in the extraction room, he can observe a table with the instrument that will be used (syringes, needles, cotton, etc).
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Gender Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
Skin tone Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Select rol Patient / Escort
Sanitary mask You can choose whether or not the people around you will have a mask.
EVENTS
Another patient enters As long as the patient is in the waiting room, the nurse comes out from the extraction room to call in another patient and they get in the extraction room. After a few minutes the patient comes out.
Enter extraction room The nurse will call in the patient and they will get in the extraction room.
Finger prick The nurse will extract blood from the patient’s finger.
Injection If the healthcare professional chooses this option, the patient will get an injection in his arm.
Small extraction The patient will get a little blood extraction.
Hard extraction A considerable amount of blood will be extracted from the patient’s arm.
This environment takes the patient to the airplane, which is typically the environment that produces the most anxiety in this disorder.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Show passengers No person / Maximum number of people
Comments When this option is activated, comments from someone in a situation of high intensity anxiety are reproduced.
Row
Front (in front of the wing)
Middle (above it),
Back (behind the wing)
Seat position Window / Middle / Aisle
Time Day / Night
Weather Sunny / Rainy / Storm
EVENTS
Taxi The hostesses give the safety instructions while the plane travels until it reaches the takeoff point.
Takeoff The engines are heard , the plane accelerates and takes off.
Flying The patient is in full flight.
Landing The captain warns of the arrival at the destination and proceeds to the landing.
Ding Reproduces the typical sound of airplanes when they want to indicate an incident.
Turbulence amount Available when the patient is within the flight event.
In order to adapt the session to the patient’s needs , you can skip steps along the path and / or repeat any of these steps as many times as you see fit.
The patient is sitting inside the taxi and heading towards the airport terminal.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Time Day / Night
Weather Clear/ Rainy
EVENTS
Radio News about the weather will be heard. During flight. The news varies according to the chosen climate.
Go to final The taxi ride does not have a specific duration, it is the healthcare professional who decides when to arrive. This allows the exposure to be adapted to the needs and pace that the patient needs.
This is a scenario aimed at the treatment of anticipatory anxiety, which is an essential component of flight phobia. In this scene, the patient is at home and is about to leave on a trip and must wait for the taxi that will take him to the airport.
SETTINGS VARIABLES
Time Day / Night
Weather Clear/ Rainy
EVENTS
TV weather report News about the weather forecast are shown on TV. The news vary according to the weather conditions previously selected.
TV crash report News about a plane accident are shown on TV.
Taxi arrives Upon enabling this setting, the taxi driver arrives to pick up the patient and make their way to the airport.
Thunders Activates the sound of thunder outside the house.
