Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be seen as the result of dysfunctional beliefs that associate stimuli with a danger or a threat leading to anxious reactions. Exposure therapy is so far considered to be the most effective treatment, and research suggests that it is mainly based on a habitua...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/8/76 |
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| author | Sorelle Audrey Kamkuimo Kengne Mathilde Fossaert Benoît Girard Bob-Antoine J. Menelas |
| author_facet | Sorelle Audrey Kamkuimo Kengne Mathilde Fossaert Benoît Girard Bob-Antoine J. Menelas |
| author_sort | Sorelle Audrey Kamkuimo Kengne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be seen as the result of dysfunctional beliefs that associate stimuli with a danger or a threat leading to anxious reactions. Exposure therapy is so far considered to be the most effective treatment, and research suggests that it is mainly based on a habituation process. Based on learning theories, it appears that a passive systemic exposure to traumatic stimuli should not be the best option for the treatment of PTSD. We hypothesis that an active learning of safer and healthier coping strategies combined with systematic exposure should be more effective in reducing the psychological distress associated with PTSD. In this paper, we describe the theoretical foundations of this approach that focuses on the action and activity of the patient in his or her exposure environment. In this approach, we take advantage of Virtual Reality technologies and learning mechanics of serious games to allow the patient to learn new safe associations while promoting the empowerment. We named this action-centered exposure therapy (ACET). This approach exploits behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism learning theories. With the different benefits of virtual reality technologies, this approach would easily integrate with in-virtuo exposure therapy and would allow us to exploit as much as possible the enormous potential of these technologies. As a first step toward validation, we present a case study that supports the ACET approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:18:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc69b78f812846b5a8ee213b46c1e34f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:18:37Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc69b78f812846b5a8ee213b46c1e34f2022-12-22T00:14:41ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2018-08-01887610.3390/bs8080076bs8080076Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderSorelle Audrey Kamkuimo Kengne0Mathilde Fossaert1Benoît Girard2Bob-Antoine J. Menelas3Department of Computer Sciences and Mathematics, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Blv Universite, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaDepartment of Computer Sciences and Mathematics, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Blv Universite, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaLa Futaie: Therapy Center, 1061, Boulevard Tadoussac, Saint-Fulgence, QC G0V 1S0, CanadaDepartment of Computer Sciences and Mathematics, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, 555 Blv Universite, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be seen as the result of dysfunctional beliefs that associate stimuli with a danger or a threat leading to anxious reactions. Exposure therapy is so far considered to be the most effective treatment, and research suggests that it is mainly based on a habituation process. Based on learning theories, it appears that a passive systemic exposure to traumatic stimuli should not be the best option for the treatment of PTSD. We hypothesis that an active learning of safer and healthier coping strategies combined with systematic exposure should be more effective in reducing the psychological distress associated with PTSD. In this paper, we describe the theoretical foundations of this approach that focuses on the action and activity of the patient in his or her exposure environment. In this approach, we take advantage of Virtual Reality technologies and learning mechanics of serious games to allow the patient to learn new safe associations while promoting the empowerment. We named this action-centered exposure therapy (ACET). This approach exploits behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism learning theories. With the different benefits of virtual reality technologies, this approach would easily integrate with in-virtuo exposure therapy and would allow us to exploit as much as possible the enormous potential of these technologies. As a first step toward validation, we present a case study that supports the ACET approach.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/8/76ACETPTSDexposure therapyvirtual realitylearningactioninteractivity |
| spellingShingle | Sorelle Audrey Kamkuimo Kengne Mathilde Fossaert Benoît Girard Bob-Antoine J. Menelas Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Behavioral Sciences ACET PTSD exposure therapy virtual reality learning action interactivity |
| title | Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_full | Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_fullStr | Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_short | Action-Centered Exposure Therapy (ACET): A New Approach to the Use of Virtual Reality to the Care of People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_sort | action centered exposure therapy acet a new approach to the use of virtual reality to the care of people with post traumatic stress disorder |
| topic | ACET PTSD exposure therapy virtual reality learning action interactivity |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/8/76 |
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