Agoraphobia · VR in clinical practice
Agoraphobia (a standalone DSM-5-TR diagnosis since 2013)
Anxiety in situations where escape would be difficult: public transit, open spaces, crowds, standing in line, being away from home alone.
30 minutes to review the product, equipment and your practice's needs. You do not need a headset for the call.
Why VR for this phobia?
In-vivo logistics are costly: it needs a therapist accompanying the patient at rush hour, with the risk the patient bolts. VR lets the patient experience the situation knowing they are one second away from the safety of the office.
VR hierarchy · 5 graded levels
Each level should be completed with SUDS in the target range across at least two consecutive sessions before advancing. The most common mistake is moving up levels too fast because the scenario is so easy to change.
- 1
Small square early in the morning, few passersby
SUDS target: ≤4
- 2
Busy open-air market, exit within 5 m
SUDS target: ≤5
- 3
Subway platform with a train pulling in
SUDS target: ≤5
- 4
Packed subway car between stations, four stops
SUDS target: ≤4
- 5
Shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon in a crowd
SUDS target: ≤3
Clinical notes
High comorbidity with panic disorder (≈40–50%). Stabilize the panic first (CBT plus medication where indicated) and then address the agoraphobia. Transit and open-space scenarios are on the roadmap.
Specific contraindications
- Active panic disorder without prior pharmacological stabilization
- Active suicidal ideation
Is Agoraphobia a scenario you need?
Confirm this scenario’s availability and compatibility with the team before preparing a session. This guide remains available as reference material.
30 minutes to review the product, equipment and your practice's needs. You do not need a headset for the call.
VRET is professional clinical-support software, not a certified medical device. Supervision, indication, and application remain the responsibility of the licensed clinician in charge.