University of Twente Student Theses
The Virtual Drug Dealer: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Patients' Experiences with VR-CBT for Substance Use Disorder
Faria da Silva Dias, J.M. (2024) The Virtual Drug Dealer: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Patients' Experiences with VR-CBT for Substance Use Disorder.
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| Abstract: | Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are severe health conditions affecting millions globally, leading to harmful neurocognitive, physical and social consequences. Despite the theoretical effectiveness of treatments like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), challenges with cue exposure and skills training remain present, resulting in high relapse rates. Emerging evidence suggests that Virtual Reality (VR) could enhance SUD treatment by addressing these limitations. This study explores patient experiences with VR-CBT for SUD treatment, focusing on its impact on treatment outcomes, patient reactions, and areas for improvement. Findings suggest that, according to patients, VR enhances the effectiveness of CBT by creating realistic, immersive environments for both cue exposure and skills training. Patients reported that VR-CBT effectively triggers cravings and allows for the practice of coping strategies, surpassing traditional CBT methods in engagement and effectiveness. However, patients identified areas for improvement, including the need for greater personalisation of VR scenarios to expand the immersion further. Integrating VR into CBT for SUDs shows promise in addressing key limitations of traditional CBT, particularly in exposure therapy and skills training. However, further refinement is needed to personalise the patient experience to individual needs. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | Dimence Groep, Zwolle / Deventer, Nederland |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/103873 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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