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Virtual reality (VR) provides an immersive experience that improves fear of heights, although the need for coaching by therapists has limited its availability. These researchers compared a VR program that had an automatic coaching feature with usual care in 100 individuals with long-standing fear of heights (mean duration, 30 years). The study was partly funded by the manufacturer, which employed several authors.
The program involved six 30-minute sessions over 2 weeks but could be accomplished in fewer or more (up to 8) sessions. It provided gradual exposure to heights but emphasized testing cognitive expectations (which patients rated during the exposures) rather than requiring exposure until anxiety was reduced. It also sought to eliminat…