Title

The Feasibility and Acceptability of Virtual Environments in the Treatment of Childhood Social Anxiety Disorder

Authors

Authors

N. W. Sarver; D. C. Beidel;J. S. Spitalnick

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Clin. Child Adolesc. Psychol.

Keywords

REALITY EXPOSURE THERAPY; PUBLIC-SPEAKING ANXIETY; COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR; THERAPY; PARENT MANAGEMENT; PHOBIA; ADOLESCENTS; INTERVENTION; METAANALYSIS; CHILDREN; OUTCOMES; Psychology, Clinical; Psychology, Developmental

Abstract

Two significant challenges for the dissemination of social skills training programs are the need to assure generalizability and provide sufficient practice opportunities. In the case of social anxiety disorder, virtual environments may provide one strategy to address these issues. This study evaluated the utility of an interactive virtual school environment for the treatment of social anxiety disorder in preadolescent children. Eleven children with a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder between 8 to 12 years old participated in this initial feasibility trial. All children were treated with Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children, an empirically supported treatment for children with social anxiety disorder. However, the in vivo peer generalization sessions and standard parent-assisted homework assignments were substituted by practice in a virtual environment. Overall, the virtual environment programs were acceptable, feasible, and credible treatment components. Both children and clinicians were satisfied with using the virtual environment technology, and children believed it was a high-quality program overall. In addition, parents were satisfied with the virtual environment augmented treatment and indicated that they would recommend the program to family and friends. Findings indicate that the virtual environments are viewed as acceptable and credible by potential recipients. Furthermore, they are easy to implement by even novice users and appear to be useful adjunctive elements for the treatment of childhood social anxiety disorder.

Journal Title

Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology

Volume

43

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

63

Last Page

73

WOS Identifier

WOS:000329688400005

ISSN

1537-4416

Share

COinS