Helping young people overcome social anxiety: a virtual reality psychological intervention

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Young people are suffering rising levels of anxiety and other psychological problems. Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety disorders, typically developing in adolescence. It can cause significant distress, making the individual too fearful to perform even basic activities in front of others (e.g. speaking, eating) and negatively impacting social, family, and school life. More than one in ten people will meet clinical criteria for the disorder during their life, with many more in the sub-clinical range. Oxford VR will develop the first commercial, fully automated VR treatment for social anxiety. Designed specifically for young people, the immersive application will allow users safely to experience a range of situations that typically trigger anxiety. With the help of a virtual therapist, the young person will learn new ways to deal with their anxiety. The therapy will use the best evidence-based cognitive behaviour therapy techniques (CBT is the treatment recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence). The treatment will run on consumer head-mounted displays like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, and be delivered initially through NHS services.