Therapists are Makers: Virtual Reality and Virtual Environments Creation Capability for the Treatment of Rare Cases of Phobia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) a form of exposure treatment that leverages the technology and immersive properties of virtual reality has been used in mental health for several decades with clinical efficacy. Nowadays, several companies propose ready to use virtual environments (VE) for clinicians. However, in practice, therapists or researchers may face rare demands such as patients exhibiting unusual phobias or OCD that require specific therapeutic VEs not available on the market. Therefore, empowering therapist with the tools of a "maker" to create therapeutic VEs themselves for rare cases may be a potential solution. Consequently, this trial involving 8 rare single cases was designed to test this assumption and has three objectives: to assess if a therapist with no coding skills can construct multiple specific therapeutic VEs with a free game engine, to measure the potential therapeutic efficacy of VRET and the VEs for rare cases of phobias and OCD, and to ensure these VEs yielded presence. Psychometric scales were used to assess the effects of the treatment. There was a discernible reduction of the distinct phobia and OCD for each case and a statistically significant improvement on anxiety, mood and mental quality of life scores. The presence level was satisfactory. Despite these promising results, these were single cases and further research on the game engine accessibility for clinicians and trials with a large sample of rare phobias or OCD are encouraged.