Virtual reality is promising to reduce fear and phobia in autistic adults

In a new pilot study, autistic adults showed real functional improvement after a treatment approach badociating progressive exposure to an experience of fear and anxiety production in a virtual reality environment. The design and preliminary results of this new approach are published in Autism in adulthood, a new peer-reviewed journal of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers.

In the article titled "Using Virtual Reality Environments to Improve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Fears and Phobias in Autistic Adults", a team led by Jeremy Parr of Newcastle University and the NHS Foundation Trust in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, describe a pilot study in which they tested a combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and an immersive virtual reality approach in adults aged 18 at 57 on the autistic spectrum. Participants received an educational session followed by four therapeutic sessions of 20 minutes each, gradually increasing exposure to the feared stimulus to minimize anxiety.

"Phobias are usually badociated with autism and often cause great distress. The results obtained are very preliminary, but it is exciting to see innovative strategies for such a difficult problem. Emerging practice documents, like this one, are looking to the future by highlighting new avenues for research that can improve the quality of life of adults with autism, "he said. Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH, Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon and editor-in-chief of Autism in adulthood.