جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « virtual reality » در نشریات گروه « روانشناسی »

There is no doubt that indoor environmental quality is crucial to the health and well-being of its inhabitants. It is crucial to determine the impact of these parameters on human perception to improve building design standards. Color and light are environmental factors that affect cognitive functions. Numerous studies have examined the role of lighting, demonstrating that physical environments can be designed to impact the visual, psychological, physiological, and cognitive performance of their inhabitants. The science of cognitive ergonomics is concerned with studying mental processes, including perception, memory, mental workload, inhibition, attention, interactions between humans, and systems to ensure the correct interaction between work and environment, needs, capabilities, and limitations. Therefore, paying attention to the design factors in the work environment to improve cognitive functions requires the interdisciplinary cooperation of psychologists, designers, and architects.
A comprehensive approach requires investigating and identifying potential objective and subjective measures of the work environment to improve cognitive functions in the workplace. Due to the importance of this cognitive function in different dimensions of life, the subject studied in many researches is focused on sustained attention. In addition, the studies show that cognitive functions, as well as mental health indicators are related to indoor environment parameters such as light. This study aimed to investigate the combined role of lighting intensity and color on mental workload and sustained attention in the work environment.

This research, is a clinical trial study with a quantitative approach aimed at developmental and applied purposes. The participants for this study were selected through a voluntary, non-random method based on specific entry and exit criteria following an open call for research on social networks. The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) continuous performance test was introduced in 1956 by Rosold et al. This test is used to evaluate sustained attention and impulsive movements. The task was designed to move the boxes on the conveyor belt in front of the participants, simulating the virtual environment with the actual work environment. Single-digit numbers from “0 to 9” are written on each of these boxes. The participants were required to identify the boxes with the target stimulus, considered the number “0” in this study. The NASA workload index test has been used in many studies to evaluate mental workload. This test has been used to evaluate mental workload in six subscales. The use of virtual reality as a research tool is well-established in many fields, including cognitive research. Moreover, virtual reality has a strong potential to be used as an experimental research tool in psychological and architectural research. The simulated environment in this research is a high dynamic range image model HDRI. The simulated workspace is a windowless room with artificial lighting. The color of the walls based was selected on the levels of the variables. Electroencephalography data was recorded with the help of a Q5000 EEG device (Negar Andishgan Co., Iran). This study used Ag/AgCl electrodes to record electroencephalography signals installed on an elastic cap. Thirty-two electrodes based on the international 10-20 system were installed on the participants’ heads.At first, the experiment process was fully explained to all the participants, and the participants completed the informed consent form and the demographic information questionnaire. First, electroencephalography was recorded for 2 minutes with eyes closed before the virtual reality glasses were placed on the head. In the next step, people were asked to put on virtual reality glasses. The experiment was conducted randomly, and people encountered each of the four scenarios designed in the virtual reality environment with a wall color while their brain waves were recorded. The experiment duration for each participant was 3 hours, with steps for preparation for the electroencephalography recording.

CPT task was performed to assess the significance of changes in dependent variables (accuracy, attention, inhibition, and reaction time) in different situations (four situations) of multivariate covariance analysis. Box’s M test was performed to check the equality of variance-covariance matrices to check the assumptions of multivariate covariance analysis, and this assumption was confirmed with the obtained results (F(30, 36)=2.736, P=0.005). Multivariate covariance analysis showed a significant difference in at least one of the dependent variables (F(12, 105)=2.244, P<0.05), Eta=0.20. The results of Scheffe’s test show that placing subjects in different positions significantly affect “accuracy” (F(3, 36)=9.719, P<0.05, Eta=0.44), attention (F (3, 36)=5.206, P=0.004, Eta=0.30) and inhibition (F (3, 36)=5.018, P=0.005, Eta=0.29), But there was no significant change in "reaction time" F(3, 36)=151.6, P>0.05, Eta=0.11). Scheffe’s post hoc test results showed a significant difference between the "accuracy" performance of individuals between positions 1 and 3 (P=0.003), 1 and 4 (P=0.001), 2 and 4 (P=0.21), 3 and 1 (P=0.003), 4 and 1 (P=0.001) and 4 and 2 (P<0.05), a significant difference between people’s “attention” performance between positions 1 and 3 (P=0.031), 1 and 3 (P=0.031) and a significant difference in "inhibition" in environment 1 and 3 (P=0.04), environment 2 and 3 (P=0.04) and environment 3 and 1 (P=0.04) showed.Examining the average scores of NASA’s workload questionnaire showed that the lowest score was in the condition with a white wall and 800 Lux lighting. Furthermore, the analysis of the data in the ANOVA statistical test indicated no significantdifference in the workload imposed on the individual in different situations (P<0.05) and no interaction effect between environment design and workload.The pairwise comparison test revealed a significant discrepancy in the measured values of the normalized brain signal strength measured when each participant rested and performed the task in the four studied positions in virtual reality.

The present study aimed to investigate the combined role of two components of lighting intensity and color in the work environment with sustained attention and mental workload. The results showed that the interactive effect of color and light, with the combination of white and blue colors and light intensity of 300 or 800 Lux, on mental workload insignificant. This means that the design interventions resulting from the combination of these two variables did not significantly affect the scores obtained from the NASA questionnaire.In the present study, the one-way analysis of variance of the absolute power of the frequency bands shows that when the brightness intensity increases, it does not create a significant difference in people’s attention in the electroencephalogram data. Similar to accuracy performance, inhibition performance also improves under the influence of design interventions in color and illuminance intensity. This finding can be explained using the principles of Kaplan’s theory of attention recovery and psychological recovery. Attention recovery theory emphasizes that the presence of natural elements plays a role in reducing anxiety and mental fatigue in people.Recent studies show that the color blue can boost employees’ attention and cognitive functions. By incorporating blue into office design, organizations can enhance cognitive abilities, work performance, and overall productivity.

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of mindfulness training based on virtual reality on improving the cognitive regulation of emotions in students with specific learning disabilities.

The research was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test and a two-month follow-up design. The statistical population was female students with math learning disorders in Kermanshah learning disorder centers. A cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire was administered to students, and among those who met the criteria for entering the research, 24 students were selected by purposeful sampling and randomly placed in two groups of 12 people, experimental and control. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of mindfulness training based on virtual reality, but the group did not receive the training certificate. One week after the last training session, a post-test was conducted and two months later, a follow-up test was conducted. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that mindfulness training has improved students' cognitive emotion regulation (P<0.001) and these effects were stable in the follow-up phase. Since mindfulness training based on virtual reality improves the cognitive regulation of these students' emotions, this efficient method can be used to improve the cognitive regulation of these students.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and one of the most common myelin-destroying diseases in the central nervous system. Approximately 2.5 million people are globally affected by this disease, and the number of infected people is increasing daily. Although no known method is available for treating MS, several strategies have been proposed to improve the function of the locomotor system and prevent disease progression. Temporarily, it has been well established that traditional exercise programs, including aerobic and resistance training programs, play an essential role in increasing muscle strength, improving balance, mental health, social relationships, and self-reliance in patients with MS. On the other hand, in recent years, researchers have considered virtual technologies and have achieved beneficial results in other patients. However, few studies have been done until a decade ago to examine the effect of virtual reality-based physical exercise on the physical health of patients with MS. Therefore, the current aimed to investigate the effect of a virtual reality-based physical training course on kinematic parameters of gait, muscle strength, and balance in patients with MS.

The present study is applied in terms of purpose and quasi-experimental in terms of method. The statistical population consisted of all women with MS referred to the MS Association, Tehran, Iran, in 1400. The sampling method was purposeful and available, and eventually, 20 participants were selected based on the inclusion criteria with an age range of 20 to 40 years and divided into two groups of ten equal by simple random sampling. Then, the researcher measured the subjects of the two groups of pre-test measurements, including muscle strength, kinematic gait indices, dynamic, and static balance. Forty-eight hours after the pre-test measurements, the subjects in the training group performed sports activities according to the designed protocol for eight weeks, 3-weekly sessions, and each session for 45 minutes. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, post-test measurements were performed under the same pre-test conditions. A motion analysis device made by the American company Motion Analysis and the software of the German Cortex device with six cameras were used to measure the kinematic indices of patients' gait. A standard isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess the strength of the lower body muscles. This study measured isokinetic power in two ways, eccentric and concentric, at two angular speeds of 60 and 180 degrees per second in the superior leg. Static and dynamic equilibrium was measured using a Biodex balance meter (Model 590-32). An independent t-test was used to analyze and compare the data between groups. The significance level was considered for statistical comparisons (P<0.05).

The present study's results revealed that the mean maximum strength of knee extensor muscles at angles of 60 degrees (P=0.014) and 180 degrees (P=0.007) was significantly higher than in the control group. In the training group, the strength of the knee flexor muscles at angles of 60 degrees (P=0.003) and 180 degrees (P=0.034) was significantly higher than in the control group. Furthermore, the training group’s kinematic indices of stride length (P=0.006) and stride speed (P=0.001) were significantly higher than in the control group. In the training group, Kinematic indices of step time (P=0.031) and dual support (P=0.013) at the end of the study period were significantly lower than in the control group. Static balance in three general levels (P=0.001), anterior-posterior (P=0.032), and middle-lateral (P=0.001) in the training group were significantly better than in the control group. Correspondingly, dynamic balance at three levels (P=0.002), anterior-posterior (P=0.001), and middle-lateral (P=0.004) at the end of the study in the training group were significantly better than in the control group.
Table 3. Mean and standard deviation of muscle strength of training and control groups in the pre-test and post-test



P-Value
Training Group
Control Group
Variables


Post-test
Pre-test
Post-test
Pre-test


0.006
8.2± 64.2
6.3± 66.4
3.6± 74.1
7.2± 65.2
Step length (cm)


0.031
0.4± 0.55
0.3± 0.58
0.5± 0.52
0.8± 0.56
Step time (seconds)


0.013
8.3± 36.1
5.6± 37.6
7.2± 32.8
4.3± 36.7
Dual support (percentage)


0.001
9.7± 46.4
8.2± 47.3
7.3± 51.1
4.6± 48.6
Walking rhythm (steps per minute)

The present study concluded that eight weeks of virtual reality physical training significantly increased strength, balance, and kinematic gait indices in patients with MS. One of the main reasons for the positive effect of virtual reality-based physical exercises is the new and exciting nature of this type of exercise. Auditory and visual stimuli in virtual exercises are attractive to the patient. In addition, when the patient wins or loses, they can receive appropriate feedback information from the device, which encourages the patient to repeat the movement. In these exercises, the patient, knowing that the activity environment is a virtual environment, tries to adapt to and interact constructively with it and overcome the limitations of the real world. Thus, virtual reality has various positive features that can increase motivation, performance, satisfaction, and engagement and encourage the person to continue as much exercise as possible, including the following: 1- Frequent and intense exercises in a simple, colorful, attractive and motivating environment in the game text. 2- Introducing new games in each treatment session and increasing the game’s complexity following the development of the patient's ability level because new motor skills can lead to better learning and functional plasticity of the nervous system. 4- The activity causes sensory-motor and visual and rapid auditory feedback during or after the game.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
The present study included ethical principles such as obtaining informed consent, the confidentiality of participants keeping their information confidential, and the coding of participants' names. The study also provided sufficient information on how to conduct the research. In addition, participants were free to leave the study at any phase of this study.
Authors contributions
Article writing: Somayeh Taheri; Analysis of statistical findings and scientific and literary editing of the article: Shahab Parvinpour and Marzieh Balali.
Funding
The amount of ten million Rials from the financial resources of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, was considered for this research.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all the participants in this study for their cooperation and sincere cooperation, as well as all the managers and staff of MS centers, Tehran, Iran who cooperated with us in collecting the findings of the present study. It is worth mentioning that this article is taken from the PhD dissertation of the first author with the code 14350402972008 at Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch.
Conflicts of interests
The authors of the present article state that there is no conflict of interest in writing this research.

Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over the age of 60 will almost double (from 12% to 22%). Aging is associated with changes in biological, physiological, psychological, behavioral, and social processes. Among these changes is a decrease in cognitive function. Mild cognitive impairment is one of the most common problems among the elderly.  Undoubtedly, mild cognitive impairment refers to an intermediate stage of cognitive impairment seen in average old age and early dementia. Mild cognitive impairment is often characterized by significant deficits in learning, attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, and semantic language. Behavioral research shows that adults with mild cognitive impairment have cognitive impairment in working memory, central executive function, and types of attention compared to healthy older adults. One of the most critical cognitive impairments in mild cognitive impairment is impaired working memory. Cognitive training and rehabilitation are the most widely used methods to improve and enhance cognitive functions. Advances in technology have led to the formation of computer cognitive training and virtual reality cognitive training that have provided more comprehensive, flexible, practical, and accessible interventions. The use of virtual reality for cognitive training with Pathological people is considered a creative innovation that uses computer software to effectively combine visual, auditory, and tactile feedback and recreate real-life environments. The present study designed and evaluated a cognitive empowerment program using virtual reality technology to improve working memory.

The present study belongs to quasi-experimental designs in terms of data collection method and applied and developmental designs in terms of purpose. It was performed on two experimental and control groups. The study’s statistical population included patients with mild cognitive impairment who, in 2019 and the first half of 2020 referred to the Brain and Cognition Clinic and Firoozgar Hospital in Tehran. A neurologist diagnosed mild cognitive impairment, and their disorder was confirmed by Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination and MRI. Accordingly, 30 subjects were randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. In this study, the intervention is based on virtual reality as an independent variable and working memory as a dependent variable. Subscales of digit span and symbol span of third and fourth editions of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) have been used to examine working memory. In the executive phase of the research, after obtaining the consent of the participants, a pre-test was performed. After completing the initial evaluations, the administrative process of the intervention began, and the sessions were held for ten sessions, three sessions per week and each session for half an hour. At the end of the course, all participants performed cognitive assessments again. Also, follow-up period evaluations were performed in accordance with previous studies one month later. It should be noted that all assessments were performed in the pre-test, final, and follow-up stages by a senior expert in the field of cognitive rehabilitation, which had received the necessary training in performing assessments. Data analysis in this study was based on the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores. Based on this, the mean scores of digit span and symbol span expansions in three-time stages in two training and control groups were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. In order to check the test assumptions, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of data distribution, the Levene's test was used to check the homogeneity of variances, and Mauchly’s test of sphericity was used to check the combined symmetry. Statistical methods of the present study were performed using SPSS-26 software.

The average age of the research sample is 69.47±6.02, with a minimum of 61 and a maximum of 81 years old. The results of independent t-test revealed that there was no significant difference between the age of the experimental group (mean=69.87, standard deviation=7.16) and the control group (mean=69.07, standard deviation=4.85) (t=36, P=0.72). Table 1 shows the findings related to demographic variables, including gender, job status, and level of education by experimental and control groups. The frequency of women and men is the same in both groups. The amount of chi-square obtained to compare the frequencies of the two groups in the three categories of job status is equal to 3.61, which is not statistically significant (P=0.17), so the groups in terms of job status are not significantly different from each other. Also, experimental and control groups did not have significant differences in terms of frequency in educational levels (χ2=1.73, P=0.89). The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the digit span. There is a significant difference between the mean digit span in the pre-test stage with the two stages of post-test (P<0.0005) and follow-up (P<0.0005) as well as the two stages of post-test and follow-up. In symbol span, the results of repeated measures analysis of variance show that over time, a significant effect was observed in the mean symbol span (F (2,56)=17.41, P<0.0005, η2P=0.38). There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups. There is a significant difference between the mean symbol span in the pre-test stage and the two post-test stages (P<0.001) and follow-up (P<0.0005). Nevertheless, the two stages of post-test and follow-up are not significantly different.

The results revealed that the designed program affected the working memory of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment. The scores of digit span showed significant differences among the three evaluations of the experimental group; in comparison, the scores of the control group in all three evaluations were relatively constant and did not differ significantly. The results regarding the symbol span also showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups, and this difference between the pre-test and post-test of the experimental group is also significant, but there was no significant difference from the post-test stage to follow up.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of compassion-focused face-to-face therapy and compassion-focused virtual reality therapy on marital burnout. It was applied using a quasi-experimental research design with pretest, posttest, follow-up, and control group. The statistical population included all married men of Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan who showed symptoms of marital burnout in 2020. Then, 30 people were selected from them and randomly assigned to three groups: Face-to-Face Therapy, Virtual Reality Therapy, and Control Group (10 people in each group). The research instruments were the Couple Burnout Questionnaire (CBQ) and the face-to-face and virtual reality therapies, which were conducted individually in seven 45-minute sessions. Data analysis was performed using the repeated measures analysis of variance test in SPSS.26 software. The results showed that both therapies lead to a reduction in marital burnout and its components (p < 0.05) and that the effect of face-to-face therapy is greater than that of virtual reality therapy on marital burnout, mental exhaustion and physical exhaustion. For the emotional exhaustion component, both therapies were equally effective. In addition, virtual reality therapy had no significant effect on physical exhaustion (p > 0.05). The results also showed the persistence of both therapies in the follow-up phase. Considering the effectiveness of virtual reality in the therapy of burnout, this technology can be used to treat marital burnout.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) on reducing public speaking anxiety in dormitory students.

The research methodology was a semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and a control group. The research statistical population consisted of all dormitory students of Allameh Tabataba'i University in the academic year of 2017-2018. Of these, using purposive sampling technique, thirty students who met the research criteria and experienced high levels of public speaking anxiety were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group (15 individuals) and the control group (15 individuals). The experimental group received eight sessions of VRET while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS: Bartholomay & Houlihan, 2016) in two stages of pretest and post-test. The data were then analyzed using ANCOVA statistical method.

The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p<0.001) indicating that VRET is beneficial for reducing public speaking anxiety of dormitory students.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy on the severity of symptoms and cognitive avoidance in patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. This study was conducted in the framework of a single-subject experimental design using multiple baselines with a 6-week follow-up. Three women with GAD were selected through a structured clinical interview based on the criteria of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5 (DSM5) by Convenience Sampling among those who referred to the Counseling centers in Tabriz. The protocol of this study followed the manual by Becker and Margraf (2002) which describes imaginal exposure for GAD applied in 15 sessions. The only difference was that in this research exposure to virtual reality replaced with imagination. In this study, three 360-degree films were made by the researcher used for the exposure. The content made in the form of 360-degree videos and displayed to patients through virtual reality tools. The scales to assess changes in Gad symptoms and cognitive avoidance include the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire by Spitz, Kroenke, Williams, Lowe (2006) and the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire by sexton and Dugas (2009). Data analyzed with visuals inspection, improvement percentage, and reliable change index strategies. Results showed that virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy has significant efficiency in the reduction of GAD symptoms and cognitive avoidance clinically and statistically (p<0.05). virtual reality-based worry exposure therapy has appropriate efficacy in reducing GAD symptoms.

The inability to concentrate on a specific topic in the presence of distracting factors is of evident symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Controlled simulation of such factors through immersion in real environments by Virtual Reality (VR) technology can be effective to improve attention. The study aims to design and validate a VR-based software package to decrease the effect of distraction factors and improve ADD symptoms.

The VR-based software package comprises 18 short panoramic footages with pre-determined scenarios, each of which includes the main topic and some irrelevant distracting factors. The intervention procedure includes watching two footages per session and answering the related questions. For content validation, five attention psychotherapists and five VR experts were selected on purpose, and after applying their revisory comments, the results of the validation questionnaires were analyzed to obtain the Cohenchr('39')s Kappa coefficient. For introductory intervention, the population comprised all female students with ADD in grade six of the elementary school in 2017-18 academic years in Isfahan, Iran. A limited sample of 14 people was selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to equal experimental and control groups. The intervention was carried out for the experimental group in nine sessions, while the control group was on the waiting list. All subjectschr('39') parents completed the SNAP-IV questionnaires before and after the intervention period, and the results were analyzed the using non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test in SPSS-23.

Cohenchr('39')s Kappa coefficient of 0.83 shows acceptable content validity. The Mann–Whitney U test indicated the effectiveness of VR-based software package on improving attention in students with ADD (F=-3.232, P=0.001).

Simulating real distracting factors in an immersive VR platform can lead to an improvement in attention and reduce ADD symptoms. Moreover, customizing the virtual environment based on the subject’s demands can provide an ideal therapy plan.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality with neurofeedback on attention deficit of students with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest, control and follow up design. The statistical population consisted of 7-12 years-old elementary school students with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder in Isfahan city in the school year of 1397-98 from which 48 subjects purposely selected based on entrance criteria and randomly assigned into virtual reality, neurofeedback and control groups (each 16 students). The SNAP-4 Parent Form (1981) was completed to measure students' attention deficit by their mothers. The virtual reality experiment group received 10 three-minute sessions of virtual reality software intervention and the neurofeedback experiment group received 30 neurofeedback sessions of 45 minutes each. The control group received no intervention. Then, post-test and after two months, follow-up measure were done. The results showed that virtual reality and neurofeedback are effective in improving attention, their effects are persistent in the follow-up phase, and the difference between the mean of the experimental and the control groups is significant (p <0.001). The obtained results show that virtual reality and neurofeedback are effective in improving the attention of affected students in both stages and the difference between virtual reality and neurofeedback groups is not significant (p <0.05).

Mental health of girls with normal body mass index (BMI) and over 30 is of particular importance. But the question is, do virtual reality games affect mental health on the mental health of girls with a BMI above 30?

To determine the effect of virtual reality games on mental health of girls with BMI and over 30 (obese).

This was a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population was all female non-literate female students of Dr. Shariati Technical and Vocational School. Twenty girls with normal BMI and 20 girls with BMI above 30 with age range of 18-20 years were selected as the sample. Each group was divided into two subgroups of control and experimental (10 persons). Tools include a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and 6 weeks of virtual reality games with his balance sheet. Data analysis was performed using covariance analysis method.

Virtual reality games had an impact on mental health of girls with BMI above 30 (P<0/05), but virtual reality games did not affect mental health of girls with normal BMI (P<0/05).

Virtual reality games can be used to improve the mental health of girls with a BMI over 30 (obese).

Virtual reality exposure has recently emerged as an innovative tool for exposure therapy in the treatment of fear of flying. Fear of flying, a key component of which is anxiety, often remains uncured if no intervention procedures are employed. Not to point to the fact that about 10 to 25 percent of all the individuals experience anxiety and that causes the individual entirely to avoid travelling by air. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to reduce anxiety stemming from the fear of flying, our method wasby utilizing the experimental pre-post test design with the control group. The recruitment of participants took place among the referring clients to Tehran’s Aerospace Research Institute directed to which, from different counseling centers and airports. Forty individuals suffering from flying phobia constituted the statistical population among which 20 who met the inclusion criteria were selected as participants. They were then, randomly separated into two intervention (nine-female, one-male) and one control (10-female) groups. Intervention group participants were subject to 10 treatment sessions individually, through five weeks each lasting for 20 minutes. The Flight Anxiety Situations questionnaire was provided previous to and subsequent to the intervention to both experimental groups. Gathered data were analyzed employing the non parametric Mann-Whitney and Friedman test. The Flight Anxiety Situations questionnaire comprises of four subscales including constant anxiety, situation-specific anxiety, complex anxiety and short-term anxiety. Non parametric analysis results indicated the significance of difference in average anxiety scores between the four subscales and average anxiety values of the three intervention courses of pretest, posttest and follow up, too.P<0.05).Discussion and Given the findings in this investigation, the efficacy of VRET for flying phobia is inferred. Therefore, considering the useful and durable efficacy of VRET in such a short period of time in reducing anxiety, VRET as a novel therapeutic approach is an asset for further research and development.

This study wasaimed at designing and validation of a software for treating flying phobia, based on real recorded VR 360-degree films of an entire flying. At the content validity stage of the software, the population consisted of all phobia therapists and computer and media specialists, and 9 of them were selected on purpose as the samples. At the introductory intervention stage, the population comprised all subjects with flying phobia, and 10 of them were, then, randomly assigned to test and control groups. The research tools were a 360-degree camera, a VR display, and Bornas’ Fear of Flight Scale. For content validation, the software was presented to the specialists and their ratings were analyzed, which led to Cohen's Kappa Coefficient of 0.78.This seems to fit well in terms of content validity. Also, covariance analysis at the introductory intervention stage indicated that this software significantly was effective in diminishing fear of flying (P < 0.05).

Aviophobia is a common debilitative fear and it is recognized as a specific situational fear which affects billions of people in the world. The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of virtual reality therapeutic method on the decrease of aviophobia in those who suffer from it. The research method was experimental with pretest, posttest and control group format. The statistical society composed of 40 individuals suffering from aviophobia who referred from counseling centers and airports of Tehran to Tehran Aerospace Research Institute (ARI). 20 individuals who had the required criteria for aviophobia diagnosis put randomly into experimental (9 female and 1 male individuals) and control (10 female individuals) group. The experimental group received 10 20-minute sessions of virtual reality therapy during 5 weeks individually, that each session was 20 minute. The control group didn’t receive any intervention. Aviophobia questionnaire was administered before and after intervention on both experimental and control groups. The data were analyzed through Covariance analysis and two-way ANOVA. The results of Covariance analysis indicated that the virtual reality therapeutic method had a significant effect on the decrease of aviophobia. Moreover, the results of two-month follow up via two-way ANOVA implied that the decrease in aviophobia has remained after a lapse of two months. This investigation showed that virtual reality therapeutic method has a significant and reliable effect on the decrease of aviophobia and can be used as a new treatment strategy.