Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 18, 2024
Date Accepted: Sep 18, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Using XR to enhance effectiveness and group identification in remote group therapy for anxiety disorders: A critical analysis
ABSTRACT
Group therapy is a scalable and effective treatment for anxiety disorders. However, when performed online, the reduced ability to identify with group members and the reduced interactivity can limit its appeal and effectiveness. Extended Reality (XR) technology, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), may help address these limitations, thereby enhancing the reach of online group therapy and the benefits that can be drawn from it. To understand how the incorporation of XR technology may improve online group therapy in anxiety disorders, this paper examines evidence related to the treatment of anxiety disorders using offline group therapy, online group therapy, and VR, as well as ways to increase social identification and interactivity with the platform, the therapist, and other users. We suggest ways to integrate these research streams to leverage the strengths of XR platforms and improve group therapeutic offerings.
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Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.