Translating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Strategies Through VR Interactions to Tackle Anxiety Symptoms in University Students

Kulkarni, Swapnali and Weir, Kurtis (2024) Translating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Strategies Through VR Interactions to Tackle Anxiety Symptoms in University Students. In: 2024 IEEE Gaming, Entertainment, and Media Conference (GEM), 5th-7th June 2024, Turin, Italy.

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Abstract

Rising anxiety amongst university students not only adversely affects their academic performance but contributes towards a troubling decline in overall mental well-being. Existing psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can work towards improving this, yet many barriers prevent CBT from being accessed, particularly from a student perspective. Our research proposes a modern solution utilising a Virtual Reality (VR) headset to deliver digital CBT strategies, investigating their suitability and effectiveness, across a 30 student study alongside the guidance of psychiatrists. Participants found that gamified VR interactions contributed towards greater visualisations of core CBT principles as well as overall engagement, but 3D environments and elements such as avatars must be believable to maintain a sense of realism. Feedback showed a keen interest towards the educational side of such applications, prompting further investigation.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Identification Number:	10.1109/GEM61861.2024.10585414
Dates:	Date Event 1 July 2024 Accepted 11 July 2024 Published
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Headphones, Visualization, Three-dimensional displays, Avatars, Anxiety disorders, Medical treatment, Entertainment industry
Subjects:	CAH11 - computing > CAH11-01 - computing > CAH11-01-01 - computer science
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > College of Computing
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	06 May 2025 10:48
Last Modified:	06 May 2025 10:48
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16339

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