Blended Mobile-Based Interventions With Integrated Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Thematic Analysis of Patient Perspectives

Background: Guided mobile-based interventions may mitigate symptoms of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. With exposure therapy being efficacious in traditional treatments for these isorders, recent advancements have introduced 360° videos to deliver virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) within mobile-based interventions.
Objective: Despite ongoing trials evaluating the treatment’s efficacy, research examining patient perceptions of this innovative approach is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore patient opinions on specific treatment aspects of mobile-based interventions using mobile VRET and psychotherapeutic guidance for anxiety disorders.
Methods: A total of 11 patients diagnosed with panic disorder, agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder who had previously taken part in the experimental conditions of 2 randomized controlled trials for a mobile intervention including mobile VRET participated in cross-sectional, retrospective interviews. Using a semistructured interview format, patients were asked to reflect on their treatment experiences; personal changes; helpful and hindering aspects; their motivation levels; and their encounters with the mobile-based intervention, manualized treatment sessions, and the mobile VRET.
Results: Thematic analysis led to the formation of 14 themes in four superordinate categories: (1) perceived treatment outcomes, (2) aspects of the mobile intervention, (3) experiences with mobile VRET, and (4) contextual considerations. Patients offered their insights into factors contributing to treatment success or failure, delineated perceived treatment outcomes, and highlighted favorable aspects of the treatment while pointing out shortcomings and suggesting potential enhancements. Most strikingly, while using a blended app-based intervention, patients highlighted the role of psychotherapeutic guidance as a central contributing factor to their symptom improvement.
Conclusions: The findings of the thematic analysis and its diverse patient perspectives hold the potential to guide future research to improve mobile-based treatment options for anxiety disorders. Insights from these patient experiences can contribute to refining mobile-based interventions and optimizing the integration of VRET in accordance with patients’ preferences, needs, and expectations.