Virtual reality helps in trauma therapy

Facing fear

Virtual reality helps in trauma therapy

The crowd at the concert of your favourite band or the packed train on the way to work – some people are afraid of such situations. If the fear is so pronounced that those affected avoid them, it is called an anxiety disorder, agoraphobia. The disorder can seriously impact the lives of those affected. Often, only therapy can help. Together with the University Hospital Cologne, H-BRS is working on a modern form of agoraphobia therapy that relies on the use of virtual reality (VR).

Virtual train ride as a therapy

At the Institute for Visual Computing (IVC), the professors responsible for the project, André Hinkenjann and Ernst Kruijff, have been researching what are known as immersive systems for a long time. The goal is for users to immerse themselves so deeply in the virtual reality that they suppress their awareness of the simulation and thus perceive the virtual environment as real. The current research project is concerned with the simulation of a train journey. The IVC is working primarily on multisensory stimulation. How can the gust of wind on the train track or the frightening eye contact with other passengers in a crowded train compartment be depicted? The more realistic the simulation, the more intensive the therapy.

“We developed the virtual commuter train ride in close consultation with therapists because it triggers anxiety in many affected people,” explains Professor André Hinkenjann. The scenario is a typical example of exposure therapy, whereby various parameters can be flexibly set. “In VR, we can individually set parameters, such as how many people are in the commuter train at the same time, how close they are to the patient and whether they are making eye contact,” explains Professor Ernst Kruijff.

Diversification in planning

The application is currently being tested by patients at University Hospital Cologne. The first results show that the simulation can trigger various levels of anxiety. The current research project, which is funded by the Future Fund of the state of NRW, runs until the end of 2022. Hinkenjann and Kruijff are hoping for an extension. The IVC has set the long-term goal of developing more VR applications for the treatment of phobias.

The right settings are crucial: Project employee Alexander Steinbach tests the virtual reality equipment