TREATING FEAR OF FLYING USING BIOFEEDBACK AND VIRTUAL REALITY

This study examined an experimental behavioraltherapy protocol using virtual reality for fear offlying (FOF) in comparison to the existing standardtreatment protocol commonly employed of exposuretherapy. Both groups receivedVirtual Reality (VR) as the method exposure to thestimulus and biofeedback on autonomic functioning.The control group was treated with graded exposurewhere participants were repeatedly exposed to flightsituations via VR while receiving continuousbiofeedback on physiological sensations. Theexperimental group was treated using a systematicdesensitization model where participants wererepeatedly exposed to flight situations via VR whileengaging in relaxation techniques to counter theanxiety response while receiving continuousbiofeedback on physiological sensations.