Montreal University. Canada: Up to 25% of people aged 65 and over experience varying degrees of
anxiety. Although cognitive behavioural therapy is a preferred treatment
approach, it has limitations as people age (decreased mobility and
visualization skills). Could virtual reality be an effective therapy for
anxiety in older people? This novel therapeutic avenue for this
clientele seems promising, according to a literature review conducted by
the team of Sébastien Grenier, PhD, a researcher at the Institut
universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM) and a research professor
at Université de Montréal.
One technique of cognitive behavioral therapy consists of getting
people to confront their anxiety by exposing them to mental images,
objects or situations that trigger their fear, and continuing the
process until this reaction decreases. People may physically travel to a
location or just imagine the stressful situation (such as flying or
getting sick).
Dr. Grenier explained the benefit of the virtual approach for older
adults: “As people age, their ability to create mental images and their
abstraction skills get weaker. For seniors, imagining intangible or
abstract situations therefore becomes more and more difficult. Virtual
reality exposes people to the source of their anxiety without having to
physically go somewhere else or imagine their fear. This could be an
additional treatment tool for therapists,” he suggested. This novel
approach holds particular promise because it is non-pharmacological and
free of significant side effects.
Currently, Dr. Grenier is conducting a pilot study to test the
feasibility of this approach. However, a number of trials must be
conducted before it can be applied in a clinical setting. Will older
people be comfortable with this technology? Will they believe in the
simulation? Will they be more susceptible to cybersickness?
Dr. Grenier has received support from the Quebec Network for Research
on Aging (RQRV) to launch the pilot study. The literature review was
published in International Psychogeriatrics in September 2014.
About the author
Dr. Sébastien Grenier is a clinical psychologist who specializes in
the evaluation of anxiety and related disorders (including depression)
and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He is currently an FRQS Research
Scholar at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de
gériatrie de Montréal. In addition to conducting research, Dr. Grenier
also held a private practice for 10 years, is a Research Professor in
the Department of Psychology at Université de Montréal, and is the
Director of the Laboratoire d'Étude sur l'Anxiété et la Dépression
gÉRiatrique (LEADER).
Reference
Using virtual reality to improve the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral
therapy (CBT) in the treatment of late-life anxiety: preliminary
recommendations for future research. International Psychogeriatrics,
International Psychogeriatric Association 2014,
doi:10.1017/S1041610214002300