"eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale": Exploring the Assessment of Body Image Disturbances from Allocentric and Egocentric Perspectives.

The first objective of this study was to test the convergent and discriminant validity between the "eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale" and the traditional paper-based figure rating scale (FRS). The second objective was to explore the contribution of the egocentric virtual reality (VR) perspective of eLoriCorps to understanding body image disturbances (BIDs). The sample consisted of 53 female and 13 male adults. Body size dissatisfaction, body size distortion, perceived body size, and ideal body size were assessed. Overall, outcomes showed good agreement between allocentric perspectives as measured via VR and the FRS. The egocentric VR perspective produced different results compared to both the allocentric VR perspective and the FRS. This difference revealed discriminant validity and suggested that eLoricorps' egocentric VR perspective might assess something different from the traditional conception of body dissatisfaction, which an allocentric VR perspective generally assesses. Finally, the egocentric VR perspective in assessing BIDs deserves to be studied more extensively to explore the possibility of finding two types of body image distortion: (a) an egocentric perceptual body distortion, referring to internal body sensation affected by intra-individual changes, and (b) an allocentric perceptual body distortion, referring to external body benchmarks constructed by inter-individual comparison occurring in a given cultural context.

Reduction in Costs after Treating Comorbid Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are impairing and costly disorders that are often misdiagnosed and left untreated despite multiple consultations. These disorders frequently co-occur, but little is known about the costs associated with their comorbidity and the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on cost reduction. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The first objective of this study was to assess the mental health-related costs associated with the specific concomitance of PDA and GAD. The second aim was to determine whether there is a reduction in direct and indirect mental health-related costs following conventional CBT for the primary disorder only (PDA or GAD) or combined CBT adapted to the comorbidity (PDA and GAD). METHODS: A total of 123 participants with a double diagnosis of PDA and GAD participated in this study. Direct and indirect mental health-related costs were assessed and calculated from a societal perspective at the pre-test, the post-test, and the three-month, six-month and one-year follow-ups. RESULTS: At the pre-test, PDA-GAD comorbidity was found to generate a mean total cost of CADUSD 2,000.48 (SD = USD 2,069.62) per participant over a three-month period. The indirect costs were much higher than the direct costs. Both treatment modalities led to significant and similar decreases in all cost categories from the pre-test to the post-test. This reduction was maintained until the one-year follow-up. DISCUSSION: Methodological choices may have underestimated cost evaluations. Nonetheless, this study supports the cost offset effects of both conventional CBT for primary PDA or GAD and combined CBT for PDA-GAD comorbidity. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVISION AND USE: Treatment of comorbid and costly disorders with evidence-based treatments such as CBT may lead to considerable economic benefits for society. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICIES: Considering the limited resources of healthcare systems, it is important to make choices that will lead to better accessibility of quality services. The application of CBT for PDA, GAD or both disorders and training mental health professionals in this therapeutic approach should be encouraged. Additionally, it would be favorable for insurance plans to reimburse employees for expenses associated with psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: In addition to symptom reduction, it would be of great pertinence to explore which factors can contribute to reducing direct and indirect mental health-related costs.

Usability Assessment of the Virtual Multitasking Test (V-MT) for Elderly People.

In the last decades an increasing number of psychological researches have used Virtual Reality (VR) technology in different fields. Nevertheless, few studies used Virtual Environments (VEs) with a sample of older users. The aim of the present study is to assess the usability of the Virtual Multitasking Test (V-MT), which consists in a virtual apartment created to assess cognitive functions in elderly people. This study reports the preliminary results to support the development of a VE in which elderly people feel present and fully immersed.

[Barriers to treatment access reported by people with anxiety disorders]. / Obstacles de l'accès au traitement rapportés par des personnes aux prises avec un trouble anxieux.

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined the barriers to treatment experienced by people with anxiety disorders (ADs) who had not received services for their problems. Recommendations to improve treatment access made by participants are reported. METHOD: A web-based questionnaire on treatment accessibility for anxiety disorders was completed by 610 people living in Quebec reporting an anxiety problem. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers from people who received services (n = 151) with answers from people who had not (n = 434 ). RESULTS: Treatment wait times that were too long (X2 = 29.66, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), difficulties reaching a professional by phone (X2 = 13. 75, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), and geographical distance from service sites (X2 = 4.34, df = 1, P = 0.04) were obstacles that hindered participants who had not received the services they were seeking, more than those who had received services. CONCLUSIONS: Participant-reported barriers and recommendations highlight the need to increase access to health care professionals in terms of wait times, to train and inform primary care professionals about screening and treating ADs, and to develop psychotherapeutic services availability in the public health network.

Objective: Our study examined the barriers to treatment experienced by people with anxiety disorders (ADs) who had not received services for their problems. Recommendations to improve treatment access made by participants are reported. Method: A web-based questionnaire on treatment accessibility for anxiety disorders was completed by 610 people living in Quebec reporting an anxiety problem. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers from people who received services (n = 151) with answers from people who had not (n = 434). Results: Treatment wait times that were too long (χ2 = 29.66, df = 1, P < 0.001), difficulties reaching a professional by phone (χ2 = 13.75, df = 1, P < 0.001), and geographical distance from service sites (χ2 = 4.34, df = 1, P = 0.04) were obstacles that hindered participants who had not received the services they were seeking, more than those who had received services. Conclusions: Participant-reported barriers and recommendations highlight the need to increase access to health care professionals in terms of wait times, to train and inform primary care professionals about screening and treating ADs, and to develop psychotherapeutic services availability in the public health network.

The development of the SWEAT questionnaire: a scale measuring costs and efforts inherent to conducting exposure sessions.

For decades, empirical studies have shown the effectiveness of exposure techniques when used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment for anxiety disorders. A few studies are now suggesting that using Virtual Reality (VR) may be an effective way to conduct exposure and overcome some of the limitations of in vivo exposure. The aim of this study is to validate the Specific Work for Exposure Applied in Therapy (SWEAT) questionnaire that measures costs and efforts required to conduct in vivo and in virtuo exposure. A total of 265 exposure sessions (in vivo = 140; in virtuo = 125) were rated by experienced psychologists. Reliability analysis revealed three main factors in the construct of the SWEAT questionnaire. Results also showed that conducting exposure in VR is less of a burden and more readily adapted to the patients' needs than in vivo.

Could virtual reality be effective in treating children with phobias?

The use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in adults is gaining popularity and its efficacy is supported by numerous outcome studies. Similar research for children is lagging behind. The outcome studies on the use of virtual reality to treat anxiety disorders in children currently address only specific phobias, and all of the available trials are reviewed in this article. Despite the limited number of studies, results are very encouraging for the treatment of school and spider phobias. A study with adolescents suggests that, at least for social anxiety, exposure stimuli would be more effective if they were developed specifically for younger populations. Virtual reality may not increase children's motivation towards therapy unless their fearful apprehension is addressed before initiating the treatment.

Assessment of the therapeutic alliance in face-to-face or videoconference treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Telepsychotherapy is a cutting-edge intervention that shows great promise in the mental health care field. However, the possibility of developing a high-quality therapeutic alliance is often doubted when psychotherapy is provided remotely. This study assesses the development of a therapeutic alliance in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder who were treated either by videoconference therapy or a face-to-face therapy. Forty-six participants with PTSD received cognitive behavioral therapy, 17 of them by videoconference and 29 in person. A variety of questionnaires evaluating the quality of the therapeutic relationship were administered at five different times during treatment. Each session was also assessed by the therapist and the participant immediately afterwards. The results indicate that a therapeutic alliance can develop very well in both treatment conditions and that there is no significant difference between the two. Certain clinical and practical implications are discussed.

Assessment of inhibition deficits with the virtual classroom in children with traumatic brain injury: a pilot-study.

This study compared the performance of 8 children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury on the traditional VIGIL Continuous Performance Test and the Continuous Performance Test included in the Virtual Classroom. Results supported the hypothesis, showing that the Continuous Performance Test from the Virtual Classroom showed more sensitivity concerning inhibition deficits. More precisely, children showed more commission errors and longer reaction time. These results can be explained by the ecological character of the Virtual Classroom, meaning that this instrument is close to real-life experiences and requires more attention and inhibition resources.