Differential Effects of in Vivo and Virtual Exposure Therapy in Agoraphobia

Summary

Anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia, are prevalent in the German population, leading affected individuals to avoid specific places like crowds or public transport. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure is an effective treatment, many patients resort to medication rather than therapy. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) shows promise in easing exposure treatment with customizable scenarios. Interoception (body symptom perception) and the endocannabinoid system are explored as factors in maintaining agoraphobia. Studies investigate how therapies like exposure (both in vivo and in VR) impact these factors and treatment outcomes. Interoception, especially in panic disorder patients, plays a crucial role, with accurate heartbeat perception linked to maintaining anxiety. The endocannabinoid system, affecting various functions, is studied for its role in therapy outcomes and its modulation of the body's stress response. The study aims to understand how these systems interact in agoraphobic patients and how therapy affects their functionality.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Experimental group: Diagnosis of agoraphobia with or without panic disorder
* Clinical control group: diagnosis of social phobia
* Control group: healthy individuals without acute or chronic mental illness
* A depressive disorder may be present as a comorbid diagnosis in the experimental group and the clinical control group

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other mental illnesses: Substance dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, eating disorders, PTSD, major depressive episode, personality disorder
* Somatic diseases: Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, metabolic or endocrine diseases
* Taking psychotropic medication (except antidepressants) or medication that affects the cardiovascular system (e.g. beta-blockers), medication containing cortisone, use of creams with corticosteroids
* Pregnancy, breastfeeding
* Ongoing psychotherapy

Conditions3

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