Virtualware Group is developing a virtual reality platform called VirtualRet to treat anxiety disorders like phobias. VirtualRet allows patients to be immersed in virtual environments that expose them to the objects or situations of their phobias without physical risk. This overcomes limitations of traditional exposure therapies. Virtual reality therapy is effective because it provides total control over exposure segments and dosing to elicit the desired stress responses, at lower cost than in-person treatments. VirtualRet aims to make virtual reality therapy accessible to more patients, including those resistant to traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy.

1. VIRTUALWARE GROUP
Mental health / Cyberpsychology
Applying virtual reality to anxiety disorders
Julio Álvarez eHealth Business Unit Manager
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Jon Arambarri R&D Projects Director

2. What is a phobia??
A phobia is defined as an
irrational and excessive fear of
an object or situation.
These are largely under
reported, probably because
many phobia sufferers find ways
to avoid the situations to which
they are phobic.
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3. Types of phobias
Social phobia Agoraphobia
Specific phobia
Aracnophobia
Aviatophobia
Acrophobia
…
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4. Signs and Symptoms of
Phobias?
Panic attack
Physical symptoms
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5. Did you know that …
Phobias are the single most common mental disorder.
All three types of phobia, social, agoraphobia and specific are likely
to affect between 5 and 10 people in every 100.
Phobia statistics suggest that roughly twice as many women as
men suffer specific phobia though about equal numbers of women
and men have social phobia.
Only about 20% of specific phobias disappear on their own for an
adult.
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6. How Are Phobias Treated?
The best treatment option is usually
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
Exposure treatments attempt to lessen phobias by repeated
exposure to the feared object or situation.
In vivo exposure
Imagination
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7. Virtual Reality Immersion Therapy
Virtual reality therapy (VRT), also known as virtual reality immersion therapy
(VRIT) and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a method of
psychotherapy that uses virtual reality technology to treat patients with
anxiety disorders and phobias.
Total Segments
No risks of People
control of of any
Costs vs in potential resistant to
the phobia can
vivo physical traditional
"phobic" be
harm. treatment.
experience. repeated.
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8. Product Value Proposition
VirtualRet is a Virtual Reality platform for the treatment of anxiety
disorders (Phobias). The patients are immersed into a Virtual
environment with no risk, and are exposed to different sequences
causing the desired medical stress levels.
VIRTUALWARE GROUP
Using Virtual Reality glasses a high degree of immersion is achieved with the
final objective of treatment and diagnose a variety of phobias.
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9. Product Value Proposition
VIRTUALWARE GROUP
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10. VIRTUALWARE GROUP
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11. Thank you very much