Shiban, Youssef and Diemer, Julia and Mueller, Jana and Bruetting-Schick, Johanna and Pauli, Paul and Muehlberger, Andreas (2017) Diaphragmatic breathing during virtual reality exposure therapy for aviophobia: functional coping strategy or avoidance behavior? a pilot study. BMC PSYCHIATRY, 17: 29. ISSN 1471-244X,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Background: Although there is solid evidence for the efficacy of in vivo and virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy for a specific phobia, there is a significant debate over whether techniques promoting distraction or relaxation have impairing or enhancing effects on treatment outcome. In the present pilot study, we investigated the effect of diaphragmatic breathing (DB) as a relaxation technique during VR exposure treatment. Method: Twenty-nine patients with aviophobia were randomly assigned to VR exposure treatment either with or without diaphragmatic breathing (six cycles per minute). Subjective fear ratings, heart rate and skin conductance were assessed as indicators of fear during both the exposure and the test session one week later. Results: The group that experienced VR exposure combined with diaphragmatic breathing showed a higher tendency to effectively overcome the fear of flying. Psychophysiological measures of fear decreased and self-efficacy increased in both groups with no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that diaphragmatic breathing during VR exposure does not interfere with the treatment outcome and may even enhance treatment effects of VR exposure therapy for aviophobic patients.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ANXIETY DISORDERS; SELF-EFFICACY; FLIGHT ANXIETY; FEAR REDUCTION; SPIDER PHOBIA; DISTRACTION; METAANALYSIS; INFORMATION; STIMULI; DANGER; Virtual reality; Exposure therapy; Diaphragmatic breathing; Aviophobia; Experimental study |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology |
| Divisions: | Psychology and Pedagogy > Institut für Psychologie > Lehrstuhl für Psychologie III (Biologische, Klinische und Rehabilitationspsychologie) - Prof. Dr. Klaus W. Lange Psychology and Pedagogy > Institut für Psychologie > Lehrstuhl für Psychologie VII (Medizinische Psychologie, Psychologische Diagnostik und Methodenlehre) - Prof. Dr. Brigitte Kudielka |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Dec 2018 13:01 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2019 08:59 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/551 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
