A REVIEW OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC STUDIES OF STRESS WITH VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGIES

This review is devoted to the application of virtual reality technologies in psychophysiology and psychotherapy of stress. We discuss the studies which used virtual reality, both to induce participants to a state of stress and to help them reduce stress reactions. The methods developed for the treatment of patients suffering from stress-related disorders (in particular, PTSD and phobias) are described. In many cases, the reduction of stress reactions with the help of virtual reality systems is achieved not only at the level of self-report (experience), but also in the indices of the central and peripheral nervous system. This allows us to consider virtual reality as a modern, inexpensive and effective method, firstly, for stress induction in order to test certain psychophysiological hypotheses and, secondly, to reduce stress reactions.