| 1. |
- Alfonsson, Sven, et al.
(author)
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Psychotherapist Variables That May Lead to Treatment Failure or Termination : A Qualitative Analysis of Patients' Perspectives
- 2023
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In: Psychotherapy. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 0033-3204 .- 1939-1536. ; 60:4, s. 431-441
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A substantial number of patients do not improve from psychotherapy, some even deteriorate, and some terminate treatment prematurely. Identifying therapist variables that may lead to treatment failures from patients' perspectives can inform how psychotherapists can increase effectiveness. Using a semistructured protocol, we interviewed 24 patients who had experienced unsatisfying individual face-to-face psychotherapy within the last 2 years. The study procedures were guided by the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. The manifest content analysis provided 13 subcategories grouped into four categories: (a) psychotherapists' negative traits (inflexible, unengaged, unemphatic, insecure), (b) unprofessionalism (superficial, violating personal boundaries, breaking confidentiality, nontransparent), (c) incompetence (unstructured, poor assessment or understanding, poor knowledge, too passive), and (d) mismatch (therapist-patient mismatch). To reduce the risk of treatment failure, psychotherapists may need a multifaceted set of relational skills, theoretical and technical competence, ethical sensitivity, and engagement. Some of the identified subcategories were complex constructs (e.g., unengaged) that may need time and effort to develop for psychotherapists. Other identified subcategories were obvious inappropriate behaviors in professional psychotherapy (e.g., breaking confidentiality). However, the categories found in this study need further quantitative investigation to assess the validity, frequency, and relative impact on treatment outcomes. Clinical Impact Statement Question: What psychotherapist shortcomings do patients perceive are associated with treatment failure? Findings: Patients' perception could be grouped into four main categories: negative traits, unprofessionalism, incompetence, and mismatch. Meaning: Psychotherapists and clinical supervisors may need to be aware of the therapist shortcomings identified in this study to increase the quality of their clinical work and reduce the risk of patient dropout. For example, psychotherapists may need to ensure that they convey warmth and empathy while supervisors may need to monitor potential violations of therapist-patient confidentiality. Next Steps: These qualitative results need to be replicated and validated by large-scale quantitative data collection to assess the prevalence of the different therapist shortcomings. Means to counter therapist shortcomings need to be developed and implemented in quality assurance systems.
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| 2. |
- Fagernäs, Simon, et al.
(author)
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Moderating effects of presence and adherence in internetbased CBT with virtual reality exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety
- 2017
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Previous research has revealed that Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is an effective method for reducing symptoms of public speaking anxiety (PSA). Research about presence in the virtual environment indicates a moderating effect on physiological arousal, but more ambiguous effect on treatment effects where some research indicates a small effect while other indicate no effect. Furthermore, previous research has found adherence to home work assignments to moderate treatment outcome. In this treatment study which aimed for treating public speaking anxiety with VRET and a internetbased CBT-program, we investigated whether presence in the virtual environment and adherence to home work moderated treatment effects.Methods: N=25 adult participants from the general public with clinically significant PSA were recruited to a wait-list to another study. After five weeks on waitlist, they started the treatment with a self-guided in virtuo exposure session followed by a four week online maintenance promoting in-vivo exposure. Participants got a simple VR headset by post. The three-hour exposure session included psychoeducation in text, and the participants conducted speech exercises, framed as behavioral experiments targeting idiosyncratic catastrophic beliefs, in front of virtual audiences, and listening to audio recording afterwards. Primary outcome measure was self-reported PSA. To measure moderating effects of presence on the primary outcome measure a self-reported validated scale with subscales for presence (iGroup Presence Questionnaire, IPQ) were used, and for adherence a score were manually calculated based on the number of completed home-work assignments in both a linear model and a binary model dividing participants in two groups: one with at least one completed home work assignment and one with no completed home work assignment. The analysis on presence included both the effects of the VRET-session alone and in combination with the internetbased CBT-program. Data were analyzed using mixed effects modeling.Results: No significant results were found in moderating effects of presence with its subscales on the primary outcome measure for either the VRET-session (p = .375-.616) nor in combination with the internetbased CBT-program (p = .454 - .877). Moderating effects of adherence on primary outcome measure neither revealed no significant results in the linear model (p = .368) nor the binary model (p = .113).Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate, in line with some previous research, that presence in the virtual environment has no significant moderating effect on treatment outcome. Furthermore, in contrast to previous research, this study found no significant moderating effect on adherence to home work assignments on primary treatment outcome. Internal- and external validity and other potential explanations are discussed in detail in the poster.
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| 3. |
- Fagernäs, Simon, et al.
(author)
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What do users think about Virtual Reality relaxation applications? A mixed methods study of online user reviews using natural language processing
- 2021
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In: Internet Interventions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-7829. ; 24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The advent of affordable Virtual Reality (VR) technology has spurred consumer and commercial interest in VR relaxation applications, which has quickly grown into a popular non-gaming genre on digital marketplaces. While laboratory studies have demonstrated efficacy of VR relaxation for mental health purposes, little is known about how users experience this type of intervention and no study has examined the reception of consumer versions among regular users in everyday life. Studying published user reviews offers a unique window into naturalistic user experiences that complements traditional qualitative methods by circumventing the sampling bias of interview studies, and allowing analyses on full samples, unconstrained by coding resources. Using an innovative, semi-automated Natural Language Processing technique, the current study analyzed 1379 published reviews (including star ratings) of 30 different VR relaxation applications available for the Oculus Go and Gear VR. The uncovered topic structure and sentiment analysis thereof suggests that users have an overall positive view of VR relaxation applications, describing them as successful in inducing immersion and relaxation, and having appreciated gamification elements. However, perceived quality varied substantially between applications that explained more variance in star ratings than specific features. Critical issues raised were both technical (e.g. “overheating”) in nature and related to specific design elements and use. Implications for the design of consumer VR applications and future research are discussed.
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| 4. |
- Lindner, Philip, et al.
(author)
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Therapist-led and at-home one-session Virtual Reality exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety using consumer hardware and software, with online maintenance : A randomized controlled trial
- 2017
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Exposure therapy is an effective treatment of public speaking anxiety (PSA), yet inherent logistic challenges prevent widespread dissemination. Previous research has revealed that Virtual Reality (VR) may be effectively used for realistic stimuli presentation, but past generations of VR hardware have been inaccessible and expensive. We reasoned that VR stimuli, delivered using modern consumer hardware and software, would enable one-session treatment of PSA, both in the form of traditional therapist-led treatment and as an internet intervention.Methods: N=50 adult participants from the general public with clinically significant PSA were recruited and randomized to either therapist-led one-session treatment followed by online maintenance promoting in-vivo exposure, or waiting-list. The three-hour exposure session included psychoeducation and had participants conducting speech exercises, framed as behavioral experiments targeting idiosyncratic catastrophic beliefs, in front of virtual audiences, and listening to audio recording afterwards. Primary outcome measure was selfreported PSA, assessed using a validated instrument, measured before and after the treatment session, weekly during the four-week maintenance period, and at the end. After the first phase of the study, the waiting-list group received a simple VR headset by post and were given access to an online version of the same treatment (including the maintenance program), conducted their own one-session treatment followed by the same maintenance program, and reported PSA using the same intervals as before. Data were analyzed using mixed effects modeling.Results: A significant time*group effect was found such that the treatment group reported a 6.92-point larger decrease in PSA symptoms per treatment step than the waiting-list, corresponding to a between-group d=0.84 after the one-session treatment, growing to d=1.56 after the maintenance period. Piece-wise modeling of the waiting-list group’s PSA scores before and after they received their at-home equivalent treatment revealed a 6.39-point difference in decrease (per step) after receiving treatment compared to before, corresponding to a within-group d=1.22 after the at-home one-session treatment, growing to d=1.78 after the maintenance period.Conclusions: This trial demonstrates that simple, consumer VR hardware and software can be used to treat PSA using a one-session format, with large effect sizes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the potential of internet-administered, at-home VR treatment, the results of which are promising.
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| 5. |
- Lindner, Philip, et al.
(author)
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Therapist-led and self-led one-session Virtual Reality exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety with consumer hardware and software : A randomized controlled trial
- 2018
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is a common condition which can be treated effectively with exposure therapy. However, inherent difficulties in stimuli presentation and control limits dissemination and the therapeutic potential. Virtual Reality (VR) technology has the potential to resolve these issues and provide a scalable platform for self-help interventions. No previous study has examined whether this can be achieved using the first generation of consumer VR hardware and software. In the current trial, n=25+25 participants were randomized to either one-session VR exposure therapy for PSA followed by a four-week internet-administered VR to in-vivo transition program, or a waiting-list. Linear mixed effects modeling revealed significant, large (within Cohen’s d=1.67) decreases in self-reported PSA. The waiting-list was then given access to an internet-administered, self-led version of the same VR exposure therapy to be conducted at home, followed by the same transition program. Dual-slope mixed effects modeling revealed significant, large (d=1.35) decreases in self-reported PSA. Results were maintained or improved at the six-month follow-up. We show for the first time that low-cost, off-the-shelf consumer VR hardware and software can be used to conduct exposure therapy for PSA, both in the traditional, previously unpractical one-session format, and in a novel self-led, at-home format.
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| 6. |
- Lindner, Philip, et al.
(author)
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Therapist-led and self-led one-session virtual reality exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety with consumer hardware and software : A randomized controlled trial
- 2019
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In: Journal of Anxiety Disorders. - : Elsevier BV. - 0887-6185 .- 1873-7897. ; 61, s. 45-54
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is a common condition which can be treated effectively with exposure therapy. However, inherent difficulties in stimuli presentation and control limits dissemination and the therapeutic potential. Virtual Reality (VR) technology has the potential to resolve these issues and provide a scalable platform for self-help interventions. No previous study has examined whether this can be achieved using the first generation of consumer VR hardware and software. In the current trial, n = 25 + 25 participants were randomized to either one-session therapist-led VR exposure therapy for PSA followed by a four-week internet-administered VR to in-vivo transition program, or a waiting-list. Linear mixed effects modeling revealed significant, large (within Cohen’s d = 1.67) decreases in self-reported PSA. The waiting-list was then given access to an internet-administered, self-led version of the same VR exposure therapy to be conducted at home, followed by the same transition program. Dual-slope mixed effects modeling revealed significant, large (d = 1.35) decreases in self-reported PSA. Results were maintained or improved at six- and twelve-month follow-ups. We show for the first time that low-cost, off-the-shelf consumer VR hardware and software can be used to conduct exposure therapy for PSA, both in the traditional, previously impractical one-session format, and in a novel self-led, at-home format.
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