Development of a virtual reality exposure therapy system: An example of obsessive- compulsive disorder

With the developing technology, virtual reality technology has started to take its place in our lives. This technology, which has found its place in many fields from health to law, education to tourism, offers innovative solutions in different sectors. Virtual reality glasses have started to be used in the field of psychotherapy, keeping pace with the advancing technology. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) offers a more accessible, convenient and safer environment than traditional exposure therapy in the treatment of many anxiety disorders such as phobias. While many VRET solutions tout their efficacy in therapy, there has been little large-scale uptake. There are no guidelines for developing these solutions, so there is no standardization across solutions. There is therefore a need for safe, commercially viable VRET solutions that are practically effective and can be used in most exposure therapies. Based on this, we have developed a scalable and manageable VRET application. This study offers an innovative solution from both a clinical and technological point of view, presenting a generic VRET framework that is not only limited to a specific domain, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, but is also applicable to other anxiety disorders. Furthermore, a system has been developed that allows the expert to actively follow the process and customize the therapy according to individual needs. In these aspects, our study is considered as an important step that can promote the widespread use of VRET.