The current systematic review "Augmented reality exposure treatments in anxiety and related disorders" (PubMed ID: 39996149) examines the effectiveness of augmented reality-based exposure treatments for anxiety disorders. The analysis of 13 studies, primarily focused on phobias, shows that AR exposure therapies are promising: they are perceived by patients as less distressing than traditional in-vivo exposures and achieve high satisfaction ratings. However, further randomized studies are needed to solidify the evidence..
Compared to Virtual Reality, AR offers the advantage of combining real environments with digital stimuli – allowing for a realistic yet controlled exposure. VR, on the other hand, allows for complete immersion, which can be particularly beneficial for more complex disorders or therapeutically induced focus exercises (e.g., in ADHD).
Conclusion of the study:
AR-supported exposure therapies show high potential – both in terms of acceptance and effectiveness – but there is still a need for research: The authors call for more high-quality, randomized studies to strengthen the long-term evidence base.
AR vs. VR
Lab E virtuallythere develops immersive VR scenarios for psychotherapeutic applications – including targeted distraction and concentration enhancement for ADHD. Although the study focuses on AR, it emphasizes the growing potential of technology-supported exposures overall – and provides important impulses for the targeted use of VR in cognitive-behavioral therapy practice.
