Virtual environments for exposure in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 2.6% of the population in Mexico, severely affecting the quality of life of the people who suffer it. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks OCD as the tenth leading cause of disability in the world, representing a health issue that requires attention, especially from health professionals. Several studies on the different treatments developed for this disorder have been carried, including: exposure, response prevention and cognitive therapy. We developed a treatment based on virtual reality (VR) technologies to expose patients with OCD to controlled virtual environments. The treatment includes sessions of psychoeducation, breathing training, cognitive restructuring and exposure, using a Head Mounted Display (HMD). VR increases the sense of immersion and presence in the environment, and evokes the same reactions and emotions that are experienced in real situations.