Virtual reality exposure therapy offers progressive treatment of claustrophobia, in a controlled environment. According to Eric Malbos, psychiatrist, virtual reality is 80% effective, with benefits lasting more than a year after treatment.
Exposure to enclosed spaces may be relevant in supporting claustrophobic patients. However, reproducing these situations in consultation is not always simple.
Some depend on a particular context, such as an elevator, a tunnel or a metro train at a specific time, difficult to mobilize on demand. Their progression is also difficult to control, with a risk of triggering an uncontrolled panic attack.
Virtual reality makes it possible to recreate these situations directly in the office, in a controlled and reproducible environment, without depending on an external location.
The C2Care environments make it possible to recreate the situations feared by the claustrophobic patient and to gradually integrate them during the sessions.
In a virtual building, the patient may be exposed to elevators, narrow corridors or closed rooms. In a context of public transport or a tunnel, he may be confronted with the impression of running out of air or of not seeing the exit.
The practitioner adjusts the intensity of each scene, for example the degree of transparency of the walls of an elevator, in order to work with the patient on catastrophic thoughts, emotions and automatisms associated with the confined space.
VRET
The practitioner seats the patient on a swivel chair and fits them with the virtual reality headset
Using the control interface, the practitioner selects the environment suited to the session's goals and starts the exposure.
During immersion, the practitioner supports the patient using a visual feed and can adjust the exposure scene in real time
Environments
Each immersive environment reproduces an anxiety-provoking situation encountered on a daily basis by the claustrophobic patient.
Empty, crowded or broken elevators allow gradual exposure to enclosed spaces.
The patient passes through a narrow and dark underground tunnel.
The size of a room can be reduced gradually to its minimum.
A dark and confined underground container allows for intense exposure work.
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Solène Montègue
Neuropsychiatrist
The developments C2Care is currently integrating into the interface are very promising and meet the established therapeutic objectives [...]: offering tailored exercises that can be adapted to levels of dependency, cognitive disorders, and patients' real-time responses.
Samia Lahya
Psychiatrist
With the acquisition of new equipment [...] and updates to the C2Care programs, its use has expanded even further: OCD, phobias, addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. Ten years later, it is no longer merely a curiosity, but a genuine therapeutic tool that is stimulating, innovative, and effective.
Sabrina Gineau
Psychologist
I incorporate this technology into brief therapies lasting two to four months, with one session per week. I begin with relaxation techniques and, when patients are ready, we proceed. It makes it much easier to expose people to these situations.
Noël Schepers
Psychologist
Virtual reality can enrich and personalize treatment, facilitate patient-therapist collaboration in developing the treatment plan, and add a playful dimension. The possibilities for development and application are immense and extend to every area of psychology and psychotherapy.
Mélanie Boucherot
Psychologist
The value of this technology [C2Care] lies in offering new possibilities for therapeutic support and expanding the range of tools available to healthcare professionals.
François Maltese
Psychologist
For several months, we have been using virtual reality in habituation therapies. Before the procedure, patients are progressively and immersively exposed to their future medical environment and psychologically prepared to accept it.
Dre Marie-Claude Roberge
Doctor of Psychology
Since 2022, we have been using virtual reality therapy with the C2Care platform to simulate exposure to aversive stimuli and triggers that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is used to treat specific phobias, including fear of heights, enclosed spaces, flying, dogs, emetophobia, and many others.
Dr Laure Du Pouget
Urologist
Using a virtual reality headset for self-hypnosis during prostate biopsies creates a calm atmosphere for a procedure that can sometimes be uncomfortable, even with effective local anesthesia...
Delphine Py
Psychologist
Thank you to C2Care for providing innovative virtual reality solutions to support CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)! A major step forward in making exposure exercises easier and helping our patients overcome their phobias.
Shiban et al. — Influence of perceptual cues and conceptual information on the activation and reduction of claustrophobic fear
Influence of perceptual cues and conceptual information on the activation and reduction of claustrophobic fear
Gaina et al. — Development of a free virtual reality exposure therapy application for acrophobia and claustrophobia
SAFEvR MentalVeRse.app: Development of a Free Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Acrophobia and Claustrophobia
Mayer et al. — Patient and therapist experiences testing a virtual reality exposure therapy app for claustrophobia symptoms
Experiences of Patients and Therapists Testing a Virtual Reality Exposure App for Symptoms of Claustrophobia: Mixed Methods Study
Tsai et al. — Effect of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality on Anxiety Induction for Exposure Therapy
The Effect of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality on Inducing Anxiety for Exposure Therapy: A Comparison Using Heart Rate Variability
Basmaji et al. — Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Chronic War-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Syrian Refugee Women
Virtual reality exposure therapy for chronic war-related posttraumatic stress disorder in Syrian refugee women: A mixed methods pilot study
Discover more
Depending on your patients' needs, other areas may also be relevant to explore. Discover the different environments available in C2Care.
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FAQ
Answers to the questions most asked by practitioners about virtual reality exposure and claustrophobia.
C2Care has been testing its virtual reality exposure therapy software in hospitals since 2016. This clinical experience has made it possible to refine virtual environments, including those dedicated to claustrophobia, before their deployment to private practitioners and health establishments.
No, the graduated exposure is carried out under the control of the practitioner, who adjusts the intensity of the stimuli according to the patient's tolerance. As the example of elevators or tunnels shows, the user progresses by limiting the risk of triggering an uncontrolled panic attack.
Transient cybersickness may occur in some users, a phenomenon that affects approximately 10% of people using a virtual reality headset. The practitioner can adjust the scene or take a break to limit this sensation.
Virtual reality exposure therapy is aimed at psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists, in CHU hospitals, clinics or in private practice. These practitioners integrate virtual environments, such as those dedicated to claustrophobia, into their patient care.
The exposure becomes progressive and controlled, in an environment that is reproducible from one session to the next. The practitioner personalizes each scene according to the patient, which promotes their engagement and allows anxiety disorders, phobias and addictions to be treated with more precision.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders and specific phobias, such as claustrophobia, agoraphobia or acrophobia, may benefit from a VRET. The practitioner adapts the virtual environments to the anxiety-provoking situation specific to each patient.
Virtual reality treats anxiety disorders and specific phobias, including claustrophobia and agoraphobia, as well as other disorders supported by C2Care.
Cybersickness affects nearly 10% of people using a virtual reality headset. The practitioner adapts the exposure to limit this effect.
The practitioner precisely controls the virtual environment and adjusts the stimuli to the patient's needs. More than 1000 practitioners are already equipped with C2Care solutions.
Yes, all our environments are grouped into a single application.
The technical service can be reached via live chat from the control platform. In the event of a problem with the VR headset, a diagnosis is made with the practitioner to find a solution. If necessary, a return label is provided and defective equipment is replaced within 48 hours.
Patients suffering from an anxiety disorder or specific phobia, such as claustrophobia or agoraphobia, may benefit from virtual reality exposure therapy supervised by a practitioner.
For any cancellation request, contact customer service via live chat accessible from your control platform.
C2Care offers environments dedicated to claustrophobia: buildings, elevators, metro, train, bus, plane and tunnels, with narrow corridors reproducing the anxiety-provoking situations of everyday life.
